8/4/2013 - thirtyoneknots Likes this wine:

Opened but not decanted for 3-4 hours. Barely lightening on the rim, extremely open and expressive in the more restrained St. Henri idiom. It would be unreasonable to expect this wine to continue to improve as good as it is now, but I suspect it will anyway.

5/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Still singing, but it should be drank yesterday. Overdelivers for the price, bigtime.

4/22/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Lost my notes here but it was about as good as I could want for this type of wine. I rarely spend my own money on good white burg, so this was a really nice treat. Thanks, Kate!

3/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Lost my notes but this actually showed better than the other bottle I had nearly a year ago. All you could want from 12 year old N. Rhone. Sad to see it go, but there's no finer company to have shared it with.

3/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Pow! Should have had this one with dessert! Impressive structure, and it became more bearable as it got air, but this was a big boy and did not benefit by being shown next to some lovely mature Rhones. That said there's a place for wine like this, and a lot of folks I know would have gone ape over it. Fun experiment in cellaring.

3/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Lost my notes. Glorious with smoked pulled lamb shoulder, but a little tired from last tasting in 2009. Do not decant.

5/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Starting it's slide into oblivion, but what a journey it will be. I think finishing these off by their tenth birthday will be a prudent move for anyone still holding these. The previously de rigeur decant should now be performed at your own peril.

1/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Really nice fruit bomb Cab, low acidity but it stopped short of being flabby or overblown. No mistake whatsoever about where this was made, but sometimes it fits the bill.

3/19/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

No detailed notes, but this was a gorgeous sample of Cru Beaujolais. Uncomplicated with great balance, a sheer pleasure to drink.

5/12/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

My first bottle to show the signs of decline others have noted. I could chalk it up to bottle variation but I'll be accelerating my drinking schedule just to stay safe. It would be a real shame to miss out on this still pleasurable Pauillac.

5/18/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

I paid less than $15 for this in late 2007 and carefully cellared it ever since. This was the last bottle, and it paid off bigtime. Beautiful, elegant pinot that exceeds it's modest pedigree. A great case for the laying down of well-made midpoint wines, though I can't see how it is reasonable to expect this wine to improve further. Farewell, old friend!

2/12/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

I really should have decanted this. As such it took a couple of hours to really open up, but once it did it was a beauty. I'll probably drink the other one in the next year or so and now I'll know to open well in advance.

2/11/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Seemed to lack somewhat in the dynamism that previously made this wine so fascinating. Need to taste again soon to see if that's the case.

2/5/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Getting over the hill but nothing to be offended by for $7.50 on closeout.

2/2/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Notes this time similar to the last time nearly a year ago, except that while the fruit is giving way to some more underlying terroir, it is also giving way to tannin. Not unpleasant yet, but should be drank yesterday. Not that it's really fair to expect $11 wine to be able to last 5 years.

2/1/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

This has matured into a nice, solid textbook, entry level Bordeaux. Well worth the effort to lay down for a year.

2/1/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Unsurprisingly, getting rather long in the tooth. Finished off in cooking.

12/31/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Lost my notes on this but I do recall a silky texture with integrated acidity, subtle tropical minerality, long finish. Really delightful, stole the show for the night.

12/1/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Still rather tight but coming along. Lost my notes on this but I'm waiting a little while longer to try another.

1/29/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Unquestionably in decline at this point but hardly a chore to drink. Farewell, old friend!

1/22/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Haven't checked in on this in a while, I had forgotten how wonderful it is. Though still alive and kicking, no reason to delay on the last bottle.

1/1/2011 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Lightly creamy, nice fruit. Failed to take detailed notes :(

12/20/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Accessible with minimal aeration and retained structure through several hours of drinking. Elegant and integrated with dark plummy/prune notes, subtle smoke, meatiness, all laying on a solid mineral foundation. Wonderful, couldn't have asked for a better showing.

10/31/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

All these Lamont wines are showing quite well, who says screwcap games don't improve? Home run with Choucroute Garnie

10/23/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Consistent with last notes, what a treat.

10/23/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Marvellous showing for this, perhaps entereing it's prime. Should have had it opened even earlier, it really started to come into its own towards the end. I'd probably give this an even longer decant on next tasting than I have before, say 3 hours.

10/2/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Opened night before at rehearsal dinner but we didn't get to it so it was recorked til the next night. When opened showed beautifully, great vibrant fruit and botrytis flavors. I wasn't exactly focusing on wine that evening but it was a real treat and I was glad it got shared around the room to those who would appreciate it. I'd definitely grab more of this if the opportunity presented itself, though I'm not exactly holding my breath for that to happen.

10/1/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

I waited too long to record formal notes on this, but suffice to say it was one of the most profound wines I have ever tasted or would hope to taste. Elegant but masculine, it was at once familiar and unique as an expression of N. Rhone terroir. Suggestions of earth, mushrooms, smoke, meat, blood, iron minerality, and even a touch of fruit, but it always presented these in the wine's own unique paradigm--impossible to compare to any other Syrah I have ever experienced. Unfortunately the experience of drinking it was marred by a terrible headache but it impacted me nonetheless, and I couldn't think of a better way to toast to my new married life that was to begin the next day.

10/12/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Huge fresh strawberry flavors, touch of melon. Don't overthink this one and you'll find yourself loving it. Great way to toast the end of the warm months and to our first meal together in our new married life! I'd buy it again without hesitation.

9/23/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Consistent with previous notes but I might add that food helps this wine in a noticeable way.

9/22/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Perhaps the best showing for this wine yet. Distinctive quasi-Oregonian structure with light tartness and delicious fruit with a slight loamy quality. Highly enjoyable finish. Very memorable and I'm quite pleased to have been able to share this with some of the folks who were there when it was discovered.

9/5/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

After tasting for the first time I bought a half-case of this and let them sleep almost 3 years before disturbing again. In the meantime a marvellous bottle of the same wine aged ten years confirmed my decision to do this. I was a bit surprised to find this awkward and tannic though enough fruit and stink came through to make it very enjoyable, and even at this relatively immature state, still quite memorable. With a nice dinner and a very special lady it was a perfect match, though I've unfortunately waited too long to record this for a more detailed recollection. Suffice to say I've 5 more of these and will wait at least a year before opening another one.

9/9/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Bordeaux-like in structure, showed tar, mineral, only the faintest shades of fruit. Good grip but the body is trending towards some thinness. Highly enjoyable wine that showed quite well though without food it would have been less impressive I think.

5/20/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Actually a really lovely bottle though I doubt I would pay the asking price for it (this one was a gift). Great with steak au poivre and on its own, and a nice chance to try a style of wine I spend very little of my own money on. Thanks, John!

5/12/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

More austere than I would have liked, indeed it was very Burgundian showing only the faintest hints of smoke and meat but a byword for elegance nonetheless and killer with the duck leg confit.

5/12/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

This wine kills every time and this was no exception. Nice with a modest assortment of charcuterie, my only regret is that I don't seem to have the discipline to let some of this age very long.

7/7/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

What a steal! Not terribly complex or even varietally distinct for that matter (blame the heat wave) but for twice the $8 price tag one could do much worse.

5/8/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Very blah, too lean and lacking the fruity charisma I expect from prosecco. Oh well, $10 whatever.

4/30/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

I found myself wishing I'd not waited to drink this but it was delicious and memorable all the same. Nose like a well-aged Sauternes, palate like a funky dry Muscat (which is a strange enough kind of wine already); caramel and grapefuit rind, as another taster noted, with a decadent tropical perfume balancing a slight oiliness. Really a fun wine and I'd love to try a younger example. Pretty nice with the caramelized onion quiche.

5/2/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Really drinking well: fine tannin and good rich fruit commanding a balanced profile in the signature Penfolds style. Enjoyed immensely with a steak dinner, really a great lesson about the value of cellaring even modestly priced wines with the right pedigree. Now fully halfway through the case purchased two and a half years ago.

5/1/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Quite a bit better than remembered from previous tastings, though in fairness to the wine this was the first time I was drinking it in a relaxed setting. Dry, mineral, some citrus and green apple. Not complex by any stretch of the imagination but a solid sparkler for $8 that went quite nicely with artichokes and roast chicken. I'd buy it again any day.

4/29/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Pale gold, nose is pure mineral intensity with a touch of sweet petroleum (if that makes any sense). Palate is bone dry with the nose confirmed along with an intriguing savory note on the midpalate (caraway?). One of the more enjoyable wines I've had in a long time and almost certainly the finest dry German Riesling I've ever tasted. Many thanks to Mr. Fraser for sharing.

4/22/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Rich and layered fruit bomb that is probably peaking--I certainly couldn't imagine where it might go from here. Not much in the way of secondary notes but great blackberry, dewberry, cinnamon, and minerality more than made up for it. Not my kind of wine enough to justify the $60 price tag but as it was a gift I certainly can't complain. Great foil to some mind-blowing lamburgers.

4/15/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Oaky, slightly oxidized. This can work ok with the right food, but either I didn't have it tonight or its been sitting around too long. Oh well.

4/9/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Took a good 45 min to an hour to open up but when it did it really sang. I foolishly neglected to record this one til a week later but suffice to say it is an excellent, if not great, example of what Grand Cru Alsatian Riesling is about.

4/4/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Showed very well today with an Easter lunch of lamb chops. Tart cherry and some funk, coming off like a cross between NZ Pinot and very competent Bourgogne Rouge. Worth buying in bulk if the price is right.

3/27/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Decanted several hours before serving. Rich red fruit, cocoa nibs, coffee, a really nice Port and an obscene value for $30 on sale. Great with a dark chocolate mousse, I so wish I'd been able to get more of this when it was available.

3/27/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

No detailed notes but suffice to say this wine was a fabulous specimen of the Chardonnay grape and continued to open up over the course of about an hour, when it was finally drained. Contrary to the majority opinion I think this wine probably has a few more years in it and I may try to seek out more.

3/25/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Despite the uninspiring notes on CT I had been wanting to try this for some time. Big letdown. Very ordinary, unbalanced tannin, lacking interest on the palate. Pleasant enough for the first half-glass if I'd had food to go with, but then the tanning started taking over and it just became something of a chore to drink. Major pass at $22

3/25/2010 - thirtyoneknots wrote:

Nose very grapey, with some rich cranberry. Palate silky smooth with wonderfully integrated acidity and tannin, nice balanced fruit, and soem subtle earthy touches. Showed far better than the previous tasting almost exactly two years ago, though almost certainly at or a little past peak. Great example of what can be done with Cab Franc by people with a long tradition with it. Flawless accompaniment to "Looney Tunes" sausages made of duck, pork, and rabbit, along with some white beans and brussel sprouts.