5/7/2013 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

I'd give 92 if I must put a score (left overs from bottle opened 5 hrs). Hugh amount of cherry paste on the nose, fresh, but taste more muted, not as complex as I recall last time. More mocha than fruit, with soft tannins, pleasant with a long slow-drying finish. Recommend drink before 2017.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Excellent quality, very rich and sweet. Although there were a touch of heat, I did enjoy it for the most part. Close to quality with the 1994 Dow minus the complexity, but for only half the price. This lasted 5 days in a bottle with no noticeable degrade in quality.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

I really liked this but be warned, the acidity might be a touch high for most people. There is tobacco, sour cherry, leather, dark coffee. Also high amount of tannins against depleting cherry fruits. My advice is to drink this early than late. Finally, the topside of the corks are somewhat moldy on all these wines. Clean before opening.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

First night (93) second night (95). If it had to chose 1 thing to describe this wine,it would be Dark Espresso. Amazing wine, no heat what so ever despite the infamous 2003 vintage. This is very refined, with blackcurrant, cedar, dark roast coffee characters. Moderate amount of tannins and sediments. Drink now to 2025.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Does not like this wine:

Partially corked/ contaminated. The were some barnyard funk that never dissipated, and somewhat muted fruit.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Cannot complain for the price, shame to see this winery gone. (Both times tasted from Magnums) Typical Napa valley styled Cab, rich and abit warm, sweet vanilla, some tannins, medium acidity and medium finish. One interesting fact is the crystallization seen on both corks. Perhaps residual sugar ?

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Very pale colored and with fragrance of strawberry and cherry. Excellent nose, Slightly sweet, accessible today. Excellent value for the price point.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

This one is way too early to drink. Pre-opened for 4 hours decant. Pale colored but modern styled, as the oak is very dominant, yet there is sufficient fruit to balance it, tannic finish. Recommended drink 2018-2030. 92++

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Classic right bank style with the cherry & chocolate, although the diminished flavors reflects the weak vintage. The nose is regal, and taste silky smooth, but on the palate and finish is slightly weak. Ready to drink.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

WOTN, won head and shoulder against 2004 Cheval Blanc and 1995 Palmer. (also Baron de Rothschild). This bottle was aged in a warmer place, so it feels fully matured as if it was a 88-89 today. At first I kind of disliked it, but the muskyness blew off after 30 minutes, and comes the classic medoc traits. It has the generous and powerful flavor of the pessac Cab and some minerality. The nose was also remarkable.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Slightly underwhelming compare to last 2 times I tried it. The dry tannins are still there, dark roast coffee. But for this particular bottle it was plateau-ing with less aromas than I recall. Good but not too margaux-like.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

First time drinking from Erdener Treppchen. Quite sweet, full of lemon and honeysickle, however, there is also a strong element of stoney gravel, overshadowing most of the fruit towards the finish. (But not in a bad way) Overall interesting; I don't think it will improve much, best to drink young.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

A touch simpler than I recall, very massively rich and abundant of sweet vanilla fruit. But lacking some complexity i hope it had developed since last tasted in 2008.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Truly astonishing. Decanted 2 hours, and drank through 3 days. I think it was best during 1st hour of decant as it was still closing down somewhat. Very complex and full of fruit, nuts, almond aromas. Strong and uplifting finish.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Drank well without any decant, very light and fragrant, very much st julien, with a classic nose. A fine effort for the vintage.

3/29/2013 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Drinking very well today, decant 30 min to 1 hour for best result. Very balanced and rich, better than a Sonoma pinot, feels like a the alcohol and sugar level is lower.

12/12/2012 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

This is what much more expressive on the nose than the 95 estournel or the last bottle I had a few months back. Refined, medium/full body, medium acidity, and medium/long finish. Somewhat modern for montrose? with loads of red cherry and fresh berry fruits. Drink or Hold.

12/12/2012 - LelouchViBritannia Likes this wine:

Very good on the palate with rich fruits, smoke and cedar, slightly overshadowed by the harsh tannins towards the finish, there were a decent amount of sediments. By now I have sufficient experience with the 95 right bank vintage to confidently say that the tannins will outlast the fruit, preventing it from ever blossoming, which is somewhat like 75. That's not to say the wine is not great, but a thorn that reminds me of its imperfection.

12/12/2012 - LelouchViBritannia Does not like this wine:

Returned 1st bottled due to seepage at cork and depressed cork, but 2nd bottle purchased from another place also had a lesser seeping cork. Both bottles were characterized by minor signs of oxidation and were very oaky. My least liked Italian wine this year, it is ashame because I love their flagship aglianico.

11/4/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Not as expressive on the nose as the 2004, but much more satisfying taste and overall performance. Medium to full body.

11/4/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Good on the nose with floralness and rich strawberry, but on the palate has some intrusive spices. Light-medium body.

11/4/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Good on the nose, but somewhat stinky-ly rustic and fruity in an old world sort of way. Average on the palate with a short finish.

11/4/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Not much to like. enjoyed the 2002 and 2004 more.

11/4/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Dark purple color, Floral on the nose, very promising. Yet reticient on the palate, but not very expressive today until 3 hrs in the decanter. Suggest to wait a few years on this one. 92-95

11/4/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Full body, thick honey, orange, sesty lemon, strong boytritis, balanced with a long finish. Drink today or Age 30 years no problem.

10/25/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Very good. Superlative rich, roast coffee, finishes mildly tannic. The high alcohol at 14.7% not very noticeable.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Drinkable today, but needs 4-5 years. Pretty much what WIML said.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Not as good as I remember, but still excellent. Very much new world style but much less oaky/dark than 3 years ago. Cherry, pomergrante and sweet bramble, spices and some mineral, medium acidity, short/medium finish. Drink up now, currently at peak.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Earthy clay soil taste, mushroom, a hint of remainant fruit, overall interesting experience. Much like other 75s tasted to date, tannins will outlive the fruits and all other flavors. Drink now, 91(-)

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Moderately tannic, sour cherry with a bit of secondary flavors. Not a stunning discovery, but very enjoyable.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Tight, pitch black, too sweet, too full bodied, acidity is non-existent. Cayuse is something that I will never understand.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Did someone poured mollydooker in this bottle ? 15.3% alcohol from Oregon, Dafuq? Drinking this makes the Kosta Browne RRV Pinot seems like a Musigny.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Big and Rich pinot with too much black fruit and cedary oak for my liking. Still somewhat tannic and hot, could use 3 years in the cellar. 89?

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Great 1st impression on the palate with layers of red fruit bombardment, ranging from bramble to cherry and pomegranate, mid palate was fulfilling too, but a disappointingly short finish. Overall this was much better than the 09 RRV pinot.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Perhaps the most enjoyable wine I had in months. This had layers of complexity and classic flavors of st emilion wines. Lead pencils, tar, tobacco, licorice, dark cherry.
It wasn't too tannic, opened up beautifully and remain assessable during a 4 hour dinner. It is just perfect.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Monitor this wine closely as it is highly evolving during the 1st 2 hours. At first it is very buttery and creamy in a malolatic kind of way, then the oak disappears and the citrus fruit/lemon/pear takes over with some sparkling minimality. Medium acidity and medium finish. Very very good. Drink now.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Very fruit forward, complex red fruits, herbs, low-med acidity and short finish, but none the less very enjoyable. Despite it says 18 or 20% Cab Franc, the herbal component is quite noticable, but in a good way.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Color looks less aged than the 2001, more fruity and complex but also pricer. Bramble fruits, dark cherry, good acidity, mid-heavy weight for burgundy, earthy mushroom, medium finish. No need to decant, can keep 3-5 years, & has consistent high quality, but I prefer the 01 excitement.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. During 1st 2 hours it went from fruity and then dull; overall lightweight and I thought was drastically going downhill. (89 points) And then during the last hour it blossomed again with floral strawberry and grew into mid weight wine with cherry, mint, clove, and wetstone. (92) Dispite that this wine was overly tannic to the end, this was one rollercoaster wine.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Very complex and young wine. Dark purple rim and almost one of the most opague colors I've seen. Much like the 2005 Vintage I tasted, the most prominent traits were the Huge vanilla core and the weird brown sugar/maple like quality. Also Raspberry jam and hints of menthol followed by a long long finish. Not giving much today even with decant; Wait 10 years minimum. 94 to 98 points.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Very ripe with cassis and dark currant, coffee and sweet black fruits. While this is more full bodied than I ever can imagine, it managed stay balanced. ( I recall it was way less oaky and dark than the 2001 Beringer). Slow evolution and the most expressive on the nose, and this probably isn't the most elegant vintage for Dominus. Drink now or keep for 15 more years.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Classic margaux profile. Inky nose, perfumed, tobacco leaves, lots of sediments and long finish / coarse tannins. Make sure you decant and filter it carefully.

10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

High to mid shoulder. Decanter for 30 minutes. At first smells like dull corked wine which had me worried. But later the odur worn off and evolved to a beautiful wine. No tannins left but still a little bit cherry and mostly earthy/soil like terrior, minerality. All in all a good wine that is 20 years past prime, but still tasting alright.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

This is Napa alright, sweet dark berries overwhelms the palate, with roasted beans, cassis, but not much secondary flavors today. full-body medium acidity, and long tannins. Another 3-5 years in the cellar.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

First begins with load of red sour cherry, then at mid palate is mocha and chocolate, austere tannins at the finish. It is so dried and austere, now I understand why even James Haliday only gave it a 91. HAAAA! This wine seem to have everything in there, just not the balance.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Popped and poured. This probably peaked out already. Raspberry, low acidity, coffee, vanilla & spicy. Fruit is present but diminishing, but American oak presence is still strong. Overall Very good.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

From memory. Feels like a medium bodied Cabernet, with old world elegance and balance to it.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

1 word... WOW. Hugh chocolate lava, mocha, vanilla and everything you would expect from a top tier napa cab. Very assessable today but only gets better and better with more air.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Needs 3 years to integrate fruit and oak, I am not liking it today but has potential, 89-92.

6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote:

Very fruit forward, cherry pie, not much complexity but showing very well today, beating a Sea smoke 2007, among others. Drink now.