5/5/2024 - Geoff Likes this wine:

In my cellar since release, low neck ullage, excellent cork. 5 hour slo-ox, 1 hour decant off sediment, Still needed more aeration and evolved in the glass during the evening. Dark color, transmitting a little light with a hint of browning on the rim. Extrordinary nose of red and dark fruits, cedar, oak, forest floor, floral notes, secondary and tertiaty notes which is reward enough for opening this bottle and keeps drawing you back just for the joy of the nose itself. Plenty of fruit left and tannins still firm initially, but soften with continued aeration and seem to even sweeten. Long, long enduring finish. The 12.5% alcohol is refreshing and in contrast to the behemoths we so often taste today. This wine is at a very good place right now, but I feel will last for many more years and is probably not yet at it's zenith. This is the 4th bottle of a case and definitely the best so far. Some of the earlier bottles were very astringent with harsh tannins. These are softening and revealing a stunning wine. This is why I love cellaring great wines.

12/31/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Took this to Italian last night. Waited for 2 hours for this to get better and meh...This totally echoed my note on it from release when I first tasted it and thankfully only bought 2 bottles. Medium bodied, evolved color with full garnet transformation and great polish. But the wine....The bouquet is used wood (thankfully in check), apricot pit, and acidic twang. None of the barnyard notes that makes this wine complex. The palate was firm with a huge skip beat in the middle, like a 4 whole note rest in a repetitive song. The structure is fully intact, but I didn't taste the stuffing to take this further...No danger, but very little foreseeable glory ahead. Drink now and over 3 to 5 years tops.

5/3/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

As time drips and the wine crawls down the wrong side of my stained glass, I have realized, I am a very demanding creature. Even this beautifully voluptuous wine cant rid me of my lack of the thrill of my past, in my search for big, muscular terroir expressive wines. This is a big wine and has the 4 basic gears to get it from a stand still, to a cruise speed of 75 miles an hour in less than 30 minutes, but I hear the disturbing high rev of the engine at max speed, and I am grinding my own gears, in search of the much needed overdrive. So instead, we downshift into third gear, and enjoy the big sounds of the 10 cylindered engine as the torque grinds against my teeth and the peeling tires leave their dark marks all over my dingy, purple teeth. Yes, if you came looking for girth, depth, and big fruit wrapped in brewing coffee, with an undeniably big and echoing linger, then the 2005 Monbo is your jam...(no pun intended). But I think that I am just into zippy, nimble, supercharged machines that are built for that relentlessly continuous forward pull on a long stretch of windy road. But either way, this is in the drinking zone for all thrill seekers...Drink!

4/21/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Beginning of maturity with probably a 10 year window...We have spotted the St. Estephe iron ore. Definitely improved...Drink or Hold

4/2/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Late posting this note.....enjoyed the bottle a few weeks back with Carol and Mary at a cute little Italian place here. I have to laugh a little at the CT drinking window on this one, which apparently ended back in 2013?

This bottle needed only a 15-20 min double decant, for sediment mostly. Back into the bottle and enjoyed over 2 hours with dinner. Medium garnet in the glass. Intoxicating nose of red fruit, florals, incense.....palate is completely integrated with both secondary and tertiary notes but the fruit is still going pretty strong even if the wine is just a tad thin in the mouth. I'd say this could go another 5 years easy, so a new drinking window of 2029!

4/21/2024 - brennan18 Likes this wine:

This was incredible, hands down best wine I've had in 2024 and perhaps in the last 5 years with the possible exception being a '96 Chateau Margaux I had at a friend's dinner party in 2021 (the SHL is a close contender tbh). No detailed notes but the previous review captures the essence of the '10 SHL perfectly. The wine was fresh, vibrant and full of life with a razor sharp acidity and a finish that lingered for nearly a minute. A silky magenta in the glass with a bouquet that just leaps at you (we could smell the wine amidst everything going on in the restaurant - Rumi's Kitchen here in Houston - on a very crowded Saturday night). My friend at dinner could not stop marveling how good this was. Just an uplifting experience. We opened at the restaurant and decanted for about 45 minutes prior to drinking over the course of 2 hours. Kept getting better down to the last drop. Has many, many years of life ahead but you only live once....

Would I buy again: yes

Value: enormous bargain at it's price point

96+ points -- world-class wine

NB: I should add the wine had very little sediment

4/21/2024 - djhammond Likes this wine:

This has really burst into life over the last 12 months, and my second bottle during that period. It nows to lives up to all the initial plaudits on release. For myself, it is the best pre millennial Pichon Baron, just pipping the 1990. The nose is deeply aromatic, but tertiary, with blackcurrant, plum, and beef blood, with violet wafts. The palate probably has further integration, but already is silky, but with a tannic bite. The finish does not quite match the rest of the experience, but it is nitpicking. Half an hour in the decanter is sufficient to lose any initial funk.

4/19/2024 - A&C Likes this wine:

This was lovely, and paired very well with a rack of lamb, radicchio in gruyere sauce, and a table-side dressed homemade ceasar salad. Greg made the lamb, Jim made the ridicchio and I made the ceasar. The wine paired especially well with the lamb. Delicious stuff. Still a baby, and lots left here for the long haul.

4/12/2024 - essenceofreal wrote:

Wah, was decent but far from previous bottles of this vintage.

This bottle was very advanced. Very. Almost as if it was exposed to heat at some point. Not sure how long I've had this but I somehow recall I bought this online a year or so ago, Big mistake!!!!!!! Previous bottles of this vintage from my cellar were clearly a world apart from this bottle. They were beautiful, lush, full bodied, super elegant.

This had an over arching burnt flavor of tobacco, cedar, torched leather, bramble, alcoholic cassis with a dash super black licorice, black berries and heat. Kinda disjointed based on the burnt echo in all the flavor, not the 96 Dominus I know.

What a shame. Note to self, yet again screwed by wine merchants claiming to have older wines stored under in temperature control since they were purchased. What a bunch of BS!! Luckily I have enough wine and won't have to deal w this ever again. Scammers.

4/17/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Mid garnet on the glass. Nose of earthy, perfumed red fruit. Red roses and black dirt on the nose, too. Someone said tea tree oil and I agree.

Palate of old integrated cherry fruit, thin in the mouth and a short ending as well. I liked this and appreciated it, but hard to beat 92-93 for me tonight.

4/18/2024 - melzar wrote:

This wine showed well in my wine club's recent 2000 Bordeaux tasting. Initially quite dumb, it blossomed with time in the glass. Given more time, I think it would have surpassed my favorite of the evening, 2000 Figeac, which I rated a 95. I would describe this wine simply as "understated elegance". Suggest a long decant for this wine if consumed at this time.

4/6/2024 - vulgar little monkey wrote:

I opened this in the early afternoon and followed over the day into dinner. I drink very little Bordeaux and almost none this young anymore so I lack a little context for what I was drinking. I grabbed a Montrose because I’ve been intrigued by what folks have said about the wine in recent vintages. Well, I was reminded what the word “backward” means wrt wine. It did open up over the course of the evening and worked pretty well with a ribeye. What struck me is how buried the fruit was by the structure, loads of tannin but fairly fine grained and plenty of acidity. It was really compact and unyielding the entire time, more of an intellectual exercise rather than a pleasurable one. There were moments when the fruit would linger on the palate or a note of graphite would really come to the fore and there was good mineral twang. I think folks are right, that this will be a really good wine in time. The question for me is do I want to dedicate cellar space to it or is it a wine that I can pick up in 10 years for nominally the same price. Maybe I owe it to my 2016 daughter to salt away a case. IDK, even after spending a day with this wine and discussing it with other wine people I don't feel any closer to having a great read on it.

4/13/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Oh my...Losing focus and fruit but the brick house under it is all there, brick by brick. This bottle came across as a bit clumsy. Loud...Belligerent. Said allot, but didn't say much. Shows quality, shows no Bordeaux. Shows cedar and some graphite, but lacks balance. Lets hope its in re-balance mode. Long, coarse, dry finish. My advice to others and a note for myself is: drink this by itself, not in a lineup of supposed peers. Drink

4/14/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Beauty is revealed in progression. Like 2 chords or 2 notes being played alone, or together. If you heard the same 2 notes alone, you would never hear music. You would hear sound. If you change the play order, you would hear/feel a different emotion. Wine is no different. You should choose wisely and everything needs to be considered. The lights, the music, the glasses, the pour amount, the companions and of course, the next bottle should be waiting, in its place and served at the right time. Everything in the right place...This is not a tasting note. Its a rant. Mistakes I will make, until I get them right....See my previous note on this beauty. Last night, I put the notes in the wrong order. Drink...

PS_ A rest note, changes all music. Silence, is also a note.

4/14/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Well....You cant spell Bordeaux better than PAL MER...Not a very French name, but a very classy producer that has made some of the greatest wines ever made. The 1961 is still on my bucket list and I have dreamt about it many a night. Always elegant, snobbish, floral and exotic, yet with that deep night flower, jasmin, twisted into fresh manure and a coffee brew. Ample fruit makes it so cute and yet sexy at the same time. I almost blush as I steal sip after sip, like my first kisses from my lady. I dont think it gets much better than this in quality, so its only more age that's holding this back. drink or HOLD_

4/14/2024 - StefanAkiko Does not like this wine:

Around 80p.
Too acidic and only a small showing of Bdx typicity.
Mainly an over-polished CS with poor personality.
Maybe time will do some magic here, but I doubt it.

4/12/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

I really think that sometimes, we dont allow wine to talk. Last night was one of those nights. A young bottle of wine has so much to say and it needs a long time to say it. Maybe 5 hours...When you put it in a room with 5 other talkers (wines), and ask all of them to tell you their life story at the same time within 90 minutes, you have a bunch of wines talking over each other and the loudest one gets heard and the rest is mostly lost. Last night this wine was muted under the noise of some obnoxiously louder wines with allot of lipstick and gum stuck between their teeth, but she spoke her most beautiful words on the way out. She utterly murmured "Boghdeauxxxx" in the most beautiful French accent and then, she left the room. I still have the image of her beautifully full, plump, puckered lips in my head and I cant get it out. HOLD_

4/12/2024 - djhammond Likes this wine:

Tasting profile is as per previous note from a year ago. Once again the finish is the barrier to a higher rating, being clipped and with very faint bitter notes. I am starting to suspect that this should be consumed over the next 5 years to enjoy it at its best.

4/11/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

I must admit, this has finally aged. However, it does fizzle out in 3 hours. Which means, this is it. To me, this is at peak. Drink it and enjoy the rich, St. Emilion like vibe via Pauillac. Drink...

4/10/2024 - BellevuePhil Likes this wine:

This is a perfect example of a not so good vintage way back when turning into a masterpiece with 40 years in the bottle....oh brothers and sisters, in the realm of aristocracy, where refined tastes and exquisite experiences reign supreme, there exists a pinnacle of viniculture that encapsulates the very essence of luxury and indulgence. Enter the illustrious 1983 Château Gruaud Larose, a vintage that transcends time and transports connoisseurs to a realm of unparalleled sensory delight.

In the glass, it exudes a deep, garnet hue, hinting at the depth of character that lies within. Aromas of ripe blackcurrant, succulent plum, and delicate violet intertwine to create a bouquet of unparalleled complexity. With each swirl, new layers of fragrance emerge, enticing the senses and promising a journey of sensory delight.

On the palate, the wine unfurls with grace and elegance, coating the tongue with velvety textures and sumptuous flavors. Ripe blackberry, dark chocolate, and hints of cedar mingle harmoniously, creating a symphony of taste that dances across the palate. The wine's impeccable balance and seamless integration of tannins speak to its pedigree, leaving a lasting impression that lingers long after the final sip.

What sets the 1983 Château Gruaud Larose apart is not just its exceptional taste, but also its ability to evoke a sense of time and place. With each sip, one is transported to a bygone era, where the summer of '83 is alive with the promise of adventure and romance. It is a wine that tells a story, a narrative of passion and indulgence that unfolds with each passing moment.

As I reflect on my experience with the 1983 Château Gruaud Larose, I am reminded of the words of the poet: "Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read."

But beyond its extraordinary taste and impeccable craftsmanship, the 1983 Château Gruaud Larose evokes a nostalgia that transcends mere sensory pleasure. Like a cherished memory etched in the annals of time, it conjures visions of the summer of '83, a season imbued with the spirit of adventure and untamed passion.

I am reminded of a journey embarked upon in the rugged terrain of Alaska, where dusty roads wind their way through untamed wilderness, and the promise of adventure hangs thick in the air. It was there, amidst the wilderness, that I encountered a family from California, their spirits as vibrant as the crimson hues of the setting sun.

In the quaint town of Chicken, beneath the ethereal glow of the northern lights, fate conspired to intertwine our destinies in a moment of serendipitous enchantment. It was there, amidst laughter and camaraderie, that I found myself enraptured by the beauty of a young maiden whose allure surpassed even the finest vintage wine.
Under the watchful gaze of the celestial heavens, we stole away to the banks of a tranquil river, where the symphony of nature provided the perfect backdrop for our clandestine rendezvous. As we shared stories and dreams beneath the canopy of stars, the 1983 Château Gruaud Larose became our companion, its velvety elixir igniting flames of passion that burned with the intensity of a thousand suns.
In that fleeting moment of bliss, time stood still, and we were enveloped in a cocoon of euphoria, where the boundaries of reality faded into obscurity, and only the pulsating rhythm of our hearts remained. It was a night etched in the fabric of eternity, a testament to the transformative power of love and the intoxicating allure of forbidden desires.

Covered in blueberries from head to toe, we found vintage animal love that lasted but a few minutes but was savored like my grandmother's broth.

Though our paths diverged with the dawn's first light, and the sands of time swept us apart, the memory of that fateful encounter remains etched in the depths of my soul, a poignant reminder of a love that defied the constraints of time and space.

In the grand tapestry of life, where each thread weaves a story of its own, the 1983 Château Gruaud Larose stands as a testament to the enduring power of passion and the timeless allure of indulgence. With each sip, it beckons us to embark upon a journey of discovery, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and the promise of adventure awaits around every corner.

NOTE TO SELF: LITERALLY DRINK NOW POP AND POUR. 20 MINS IN THE GLASS READY AND DRINK LIKE A DAMN OPUS!

UPDATE: SECOND BOTTLE. OMG I AM IN LOVE. POP AND POUR. SOOOO GOOD.

4/5/2024 - rocknroller wrote:

Friday Night Lights (Jim and Michelene's Place, St. Paul, MN): Shimmering gold color. Drank a couple glasses over 90 minutes. Oh, my, word....I am not going to regret loading up on these. I'd been holding off, and holding off on opening one of these for some time. But many if not most of the '08's are drinking well now and this was loudly calling my name. I wasn't taking any notes at the time, but there are a few thoughts that come to mind: wow, riveting, compelling, the real deal. This had an immense nose with an explosive bead. Tons of gorgeous toast, creme caramel, brioche, almond cream, nuthorns, splendid ultra refined sea spray and minerality, subtle floral notes and marzipan, bright, refreshing, long and wistful. Glorious, and eveything I'd hoped for. Now the clock starts to see if this can surpass the brilliant 2002 in time. 98(+)pts.

7/1/2022 - Purple Tooth wrote:

At a 2019 event, one of the tasters in the room pointed me to the Valandraud table. I think the price had her hypnotized.

This picks up where Napa starts. Clearly a Saint Emilioak style with a river of Napa valley running through it. Nor here nor there...Not a fan of this style. If I bought this, I would hold it for 15 years...HOLD

4/2/2024 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine:

Golden. Nose of pineapple, apricot. Taste on the sweeter side, better with cheese or as dessert rather than WITH dessert. Long aftertaste. Good.

3/31/2024 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours and drank over another hour. Not Wowed at all. Pretty one dimensional really. Tannins are soft. More cellaring isn’t going to improve it. Smooth drinking but really average. Why I’m inclined not to spend a lot for these Modern Bordeaux’s. It’s good but not great.

3/27/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

*Rich, oily bruised apples swimming in yeast. Lovely ripe flavors that make you say, that's all I want to drink. There is some sweetness for sure, but that's just a very observant comment that may be taken negatively by the overly fickle. Theres nothing out of place here if you want to experience the magic of mature, richly textured champagne that makes a statement from the first whiff to the last drop. Thanks to my friend. Drink!

3/25/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

This is absolutely sensational. Again, tight, but less time to release. This one released in about 90 minutes and got better, and better, and better...Dense, thick, double woven dark red fruit swimming in beaming acidity and power. With time, tobacco, smolder of earth and cold brew coffee and lots of drive and punch. Just frigging fabooloso....Drink! I love it and love my gathering decision from years ago on this one. Wife smiled at me and gave me a XXXS...

3/12/2024 - lepetitchateau wrote:

Stewy and overripe...

3/17/2024 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine:

Decanted two hours. This has really transformed itself into something really good now. Earthy, musty, barnyard Bordeaux that I’m really liking now. I didn’t really think much of this until now and now I’d like to buy more and I will. Medium weight but lots of Bordeaux character now.

9/10/2022 - MarkLA wrote:

Rusty nail, bouillon, licorice, menthol, wet soil, shiitake, black fruits, and leather. Plenty of fruit left with juicy acidity. Salt, umami, and ash on the finish, which still has a fair amount of grip. Rustic but what it lacks in elegance, it makes up for it in persistence. I think it will make it to 20 years.

3/10/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

I hate to be a jerk. But..I qualify. I have 3 cases of this in 3 formats. The first time I tried this I said, I dot get it. Its been a long night and I will reserve judgment. This time I popped a 1/2 to check in. Interesting? Yes, If you like reading between lines. Otherwise, a head scratcher. This tells me that I either dont know much about wine, or I am shamelessly calling out my own mistakes. Ok ok....Now you need to know about the wine, instead of reading my whine...

In a grapy stage, this is the hopeful voice and the positive part of this encounter. I hope that what I taste as oak creme, alcohol, and underdeveloped fruit turns into something sensational in 7+ years. Meanwhile, cellar carry for me, and an advenure for you. Please write back....HOLD___

3/9/2024 - Collector1855 wrote:

During a MOT walkabout tasting. A Rosé de Saignée (or maceration one should rather say), darker pitched than the blended ones. I actually like this more. If feels authentically "red wine-ish" not just in color, but also on the palate with with lovely phenolics. The base NV Rosé Cuvée was already very good (94pt) and the Cuvee Alexandre (95pt) even more refined, but also 3x the price.

2/7/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

**The most under valued wines for the price are produced in southern rhone. Buy a case each year and laugh. I give this a BBB rating.Barnyard, Bacon, and BO... with gobs of dark red saturated fruit. This is adult stuff and my Bordeaux collection texted me last night, complaining/alleging that they see this relationship as adulterous. A lawsuit is bound to follow shortly. Meanwhile, I will drink more of this and try and get rid of the evidence before a suit is actually filed.

7/1/2022 - Purple Tooth wrote:

One of the best Saint Emilion wines, this is the best Dominique I have had since I can recall. This is on a different level and there is no signs of oak at all. Just a voluptuous, tight potion of something very powerful, single pieced and dry. A peacock tail finish in line with Troplong Mondot. This is the QPR contender for 2019 Saint Emilion. Built to age! HOLD_

3/3/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

This is a truely delicious specimen of Bordeaux. While most vintages of this wine thus far have been classic in style, this one is the most modern out of the bunch that I have tried. Lots of blue notes coming off the top of the glass, but the appearance is definitely red fruited. Blueberry, cocoa dust, vanilla, creme, floral attributes and a cashmere like finish that pulls for a long 45 seconds+. This will be a head bender in time and delicious to drink now for the California drinker and the impatient. I suggest a big HOLD_

2/22/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

**Pulled from my offsite storage with colder storage conditions. This one showed tight, restrained and quiet until it warmed up. Once it got going, boy did it get going. At first pour and sip no one made a comment, but as the wine warmed in the glass and started throwing off those pretty floral tobacco notes intermingled with lots of earth and flowers, one comment turned into a wave of praise in the room. Long throbbing finish that is filled with tannins, acidic lift and freshness. This is classy Bordeaux and I think its probably my best Poyferre experience since the wowing 1982 in its glory days (Circa 2005). Its going to take some time for this to thin out and for the bouquet to become even more sensual and head bending, but it sure has the stuffing to allow that to happen. Wait and see...Today, 95-97 and still a double HOLD_

2/27/2024 - Tom’s Notes wrote:

Drinking with a steak. Very nice, but damn I should have drank this two years ago or more. Comparing against a giscours 2005 I just drank in front of this. This bouquet not as good but tastes a little better. Again disappointed in myself for not already drinking it. People drink these wines! To be fair no decant.

4/10/2020 - KenK Likes this wine:

Purchased on release and perfectly stored. Paid $17 per price tag from Gold Standard. This was a wonderful surprise. Still opaque with dark brick red color. Showy exotic spice box aromas of cigar, cinnamon, nutmeg, & clove. Palate weight is actually somewhat thick and concentrated with dried plum and hints of cherry, toast, and some dark chocolate essence. A joy to drink. Opened for a virtual wine dinner with food
Revised from Les Nomades during the COVID-19 apocalypse shut in.

2/12/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Ok, I am officially convinced. SOME California wines age incredibly well. No wonder 1997 was THE year. This chains Bordeaux to California with a ++ component, called rich, living fruit. Whiffs of tobacco bring you into the glass and then, the taste profile transports you away in melted cold steel, tobacco, coffee grounds, and gobs of happy fruit dancing through and through on a platform of sturdy acidity wrapped in cashmere. I could see this as a 1989 Bordeaux. Drink with no hurry, but dont hesitate and deprive yourself and die with this wine in your cellar.

2/22/2024 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Again, good not great. I think it is slightly past peak now. For a 2010 Bordeaux, this was clearly not a long-term hold. Healthy looking with some decay from the merlot, and firm tannins. But the wine feels a bit disjointed and lacking freshness and development. I’m happy to buy a couple of bottles of this producer at release for drinking within 3 years. Removed from my buy to hold list. Lesson learned. DRINK

2/18/2024 - hargy Likes this wine:

the last of a case bought in November 2019, these really showed the benefit of some ageing for NV champagnes - sensational and would put many vintage champagnes to shame

5/16/2023 - CC_H Likes this wine:

This wine always delivers as a solid value and the 2020 hits the mark as expected. Another slightly unusual blend for the S.Rhone dominated by Viognier (60%) along with some Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. This feels a little bit riper and more upfront than the 2019 with lots of honeysuckle, white peach, apricot, violet and orange blossom bursting forth on the nose. The palate is ripe and sumptuously textured with just a hint of oak and a salty minerality coming through. The finish is silky and crisp with plenty of freshness. It hasn't got the poise and definition of the excellent 17 and 18 but it's not far behind, another Guigal white to buy by the case.

2/14/2024 - RMyrick Likes this wine:

Poured about 1 glass from the bottle upon opening and let the rest breathe in bottle. Drank over ~7 hours. Tight initially with notes of raspberry, cedar, and graphite. A bit of acidity and alcohol as well that airs out quickly.

Around the 2 hour mark the next glass brings forth prominent cedar, blackberry, and mint notes.

4+ hours after opening the wine has fully opened with the oak falling into the background and the fruit taking over. Medium in body with a long finish and fully resolved tannins. Drinking beautifully now and seems close to peak but still lively enough to hold for years.

2/12/2024 - Strikermax wrote:

Overripe, smooth, developed. Tastes more like a Southern Italian wine than a Bordeaux imo. I'm not a fan of the direction Pontet-Canet is going lately.

2/10/2024 - IlliniWine Likes this wine:

Fell in love with this as soon as I popped the cork. It was so open that I was a bit worried I had rushed things. Went ahead as planned, however, and gave it one hour slow ox and then decanted two hours prior to dinner. Gorgeous nose - beautiful dark fruit inflected with occasional red notes. Medium+ body with plush tannins and medium acidity. Balanced, elegant. Someone here on CT turned me on to this and I wish I could remember who because I'd like to say "thank you." Anyone who dismisses '03 Bdx hasn't tried this beauty. Wish I had more.

2/10/2024 - Wineteacher Likes this wine:

This wine was bought at release (not en premier) and has been in my cellar of cool and excellent condition ever since. The cork eased out very nicely. The wine had a wonderful scent when it was decanted. It is medium-light in body but very fragrant and showing just a light warmer color. I was able to get a brilliantly clear wine after the bottle had been standing up for a couple of day. In the palate the wine style shows bright but evolved fruit. Mostly red fruit. There is tannins but not harsh. The flavor profile is not completely dominated by mature flavors which are there but there is a back ground of acidity and freshness keeping it away from mature wine only flavor profile. It is a pretty style of Margaux, with a little flower, violet and lilac. It is a beautifully attractive wine for a classic sort of lamb course. Just lovely and no hint of being passed prime.

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!

UPDATE MINIMUM FOUR HOUR DECANT. I KNOW PREVIOUSLY SAID TWO, THEN THREE, BUT FOUR SHE OPENS LIKE MY INDIAN ON A DESERST HIGHWAY AT SUNSET WITH THE SMELL OFF THE RAIN 50 MILES AWAY!

WEIRD QUESTION: THE 1989 IS POP AND POUR, AND THREE YEARS EARLIER FOUR HOURS???

2/10/2024 - macaujames Likes this wine:

93-95. Has good aromas of leather, Smokey bacon, forest fruits, graphite, garrigue, earth and minty hints. A lovely quite special well oaked wine which is perhaps a little too solid but has got decent length + freshness. 13.5%. Drink in 5-10 yrs. Needs 8-9 hrs aeration. Superb QPR. I got this at around 37 Euros. Needs extra length or depth to be a 95.

11/9/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote:

Another modern rendition of Pomerol...who are we kidding, its a 2018 and as far as I am concerned, the vintage really should be called "The Modern Vintage". Not necessarily bad and not intended as a negative comment, but the more I drink and sample through the vintage, the more I realize that this is an easy to understand vintage, anchored in richness and plushness of the fruit, while maintaining a foot in Bordeaux. The 2018 Certan de May is showing plush, deep as the night, creamy, and mouth coating. The cedar influence and acidity says Bordeaux. This one should be left alone for at least 5 years. HOLD_

2/5/2024 - sirpat00 wrote:

3h decanted and paired against the 2010. A more earthy profile with some almost meaty elements initially. But overall very fruit-forward, showing extracted red and black cherry fruit. Herbal complexity. High-octane palate with notable heat. The balance is good, at least, but the mid-palate can‘t quite keep up. A somewhat bitter finish. Clearly lots of substance, but comes across overpowering. A wine in overdrive mode, more akin to New World Cab. Much preferred the 2010 in direct comparison. That said, have had better encounters in 2018 and 2019 hence could also be just a dumb phase for this vintage. Best not to touch for a while and check back in in 5 years.

1/27/2024 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine:

CdB BoG; 1/25/2024-1/27/2024 (Denver): From a 15L!!!!
What a stunning wine. I thought there was no way this could be so open with only an hour or so decant before serving. Drinking incredibly well, full of fruit, tobacco, spice. No formal notes but wow and consistent with my assessment that 1996 is a fantastic vintage for drinking now (and not to imply it won’t hold up, because it surely will)