3/16/2024 - FabesMTL Does not like this wine:

Bought not long ago. Popped and poured. No aromas. Decanted. Very stiff, some red berries on the nose, palate is light on its feet and smooth, but serious bite on the attack. Probably needs time like 10-15 years. I regret buying this, especially for the price, I expected much better.

12/23/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

The ‘89PLL was on deck for Christmas Eve but I decided what the heck, ‘tis the season so tonight was the night…
Well, what an experience it was !
First, the cork…I wrestled with the foil which was stuck, and sure enough the top of the cork was grey and moldy. Even the ah-so was no match as the cork just completely imploded.
Color: medium ruby with ever so slight fading and browning at the edges.
Nose: boy is this ever deep and complex. Textbook Pauillac, each scent is really pronounced: burned coffee, heaps of cocoa, dry cedar wood, pencil, wet clay, all surrounded by a serious perfume of dry flowers, with slight pulses of dry red strawberries and other red berries.
Pallet: weightless but chiseled, powerful but mature, with each sip showing the same complex notes from the nose: dry pot pourri, dry wood, and oh my the coffee coffee coffee.
(Additionally agree with some of the notes below, dry mint, tobacco, green pepper).
This is a fabulous wine, not necessarily my favorite style as I prefer a bit of plush edges, but the experience is second to none.
The wine is at or near peak and won’t improve or develop more so drink up, maybe it will last another 3-5 years before a final descent. 96 points.

10/29/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Full bodied red, medium garnet.
Nose is deep and complex. Starts with raw game, then shifts to non-descript herbal notes, followed by some precision with green pepper 🫑/black pepper. Hints of steel/graphite permeate, coated by cinnamon and fresh prunes and dark cherries.
The mouth is surreal- soft and delicate but lively and some restrained boldness. Slightly chiseled but maybe the age is giving it that soft mouthfeel that leads to an incredibly long finish. Spice and dark red fruits provide depth, freshness and a lingering finish. The wine shows extreme harmony, well structured and ready to drink. Nose and mouth are getting better as the night wears on. My label is different that the picture but must be the same. Excellent.

10/23/2023 - FabesMTL wrote:

Nose is ruby/garnet red with slight slight browning at the rim. Very complex and deep nose: topsoil, meat and green vegetal hues that eventually give way to bakig spices, incense and a lovely pot pourri. The nose keeps expanding and throwing off more as time goes by...
On the pallet, there seems to be more fruits, hints of cherry leather and spices. It's tannic and muscular and this is a wine that needs food. Drinking superbly now, this wine should hold and dare I say even improve further with more cellar time. Drink now-2033.

9/24/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Chateau Leoville Poyferre 1996
Color: ruby red, pristine. One would think this wine is 5 years old.
First nose: cedar or mint.
Then barnyard. Now green pepper 🫑 followed by a whiff of Montreal steak spice. Barnyard comes and goes, as does the cedar.
Pallet at the onset is lean and muscular but tannic and austere. Needs air.
Double decant. Cedar on the nose.
Nose is not primary, there are virtually no fruits here, but not tertiary either. Cedar, spice, green pepper, ground black pepper, graphite (led pencil HB #3 ).
Palate oscillates between tannic and smooth, eventually becomes softer as one would expect from a St-Ju. But lacking a bit of follow-through on the finish.
Pallet now showing stewed red fruits and berries as I close it up and leave 1/3 for tomorrow.
A good showing, needed more air or cellar time. 93.

8/26/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Color initially appeared light but darkens in glass. Initial notes of animal. These notes persist and evolve into raw meat/game and Serrano ham. The meaty notes dominate but there is red fruit, hints of smoke, spice, maybe leather and earth too. Complex nose. Medium tannins and med acidity, a good finish that lingers with notes of cherry, meat, smoke and black pepper. Drinks very well now and will continue to evolve and improve. Would try again.

8/20/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Deep purple color. Nose of dark fruits, dark cherry, violets and earth, hints of green a la menthol or eucalyptus. Nice finish. Very good, can last another 5-10 years.

8/19/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Great notes by fellow wine lovers below. Very on point.
My notes:

Color: dark, almost purple like. Still very youthful in appearance with no noticeable bricking.
Nose: VERY discreet at first (and as we’ll note, throughout). There’s no barnyard here, instead it’s a cool mist with minor spruce and cedar. Hints of cherries and milk chocolate.
Mouth/pallet: there’s some bite happening on the attack, but a soft and silky texture overall.
Finish: this is where it’s all happening, with cherries and again chocolate coming across with a long lingering finish. Extremely soft and velvety smooth.
Overall, this seems to be a serious wine, with very discreet notes, but the soft texture and long lingering finish make it most intriguing. Very feminine in style, it’s definitely a “fine” wine, drinking superbly with melted tannins, good on its own or with food. I’m just not sure I like this style (not complex enough, not enough overall muscle). 94 for me.

Vintage chart from the Chateau (very helpful):

https://www.domaines-delon.com/docs/Domaines-Delon_Grand-Vin-Leoville-Las-Cases_Guide-millesimes.pdf

6/18/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Nose is plush dark cherries with confectioners chocolate; cherry wood; cherry leather and just cherry 🍒
Palate is a tad thin but it comes together nicely on the finish with a bit of bite and grip, medium acidity and medium tannins, slightly sour red cherries with a cool spicy overlay. Initially was too cold but with air and proper temp it’s good. These riojas don’t have that extra gear but a good QPR on a slightly older bottle. 91. I have another I’ll sit on till 2025 or later.

5/28/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Lovely nose of freshly squeezed lemon juice followed by heaps of wet chalk. Hints of petroleum jelly (?).
The mouth follows with lemon, wet rocks/chalk and slight hints of almond paste in a rich and absolutely perfectly balanced finish. Paired with smoked salmon, fresh lobster, spanakopita and cheesecake for dessert. Phenomenal Chablis on a warm spring night. 94.

4/1/2023 - FabesMTL wrote:

Once upon a time I thought this stuff was legit. It’s not terrible but no Sauternes. Still, it packs a certain smooth sweetness which paired with something like cheesecake is actually decent. For $35 or so…not bad.
Night 2: much better. Really smooth. Good.

4/1/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

April 1 - Antinori Solaia 2003 - not an April fools joke
Opened at 3:15. Smell in the bottle reveals barnyard.
5:30: poured glass. Barnyard. Cedar. Mysterious smells. Needs decant. Color is towards inky purple.
6:30: poured from decanter. smells of barnyard and meat. Black earth. Raw meat/game. Cedar and damp forest floor. Graphite / pencil shavings. Potpourri/incense. Dark fruits with minerals. Green pepper.
Comments: this is a BIG wine at the onset, palate is tannic and majorly austere with a tannic follow-thru but then a burst of fruit and spice. This is a serious wine to be reckoned with but it dances between smooth feminine and chiseled masculinity. As it gets air in the glass it just goes down in a blaze of glory (paired with different meats -raclette supper). Smooth finish, no rough edges, the sheer complexity is just mind blowing but it lacks a bit of precision I think? Chalk up a 95 for this bruiser that has Bordeaux notes written all over it. Still very youthful, can easily go another 5 years, probably longer. Excellent.

3/25/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Agree with the notes below. A wine that is young but ready to go, luscious red fruits and berries, primary, perfect balance and harmony, easy drinking and crowd pleasing. Didn’t know Rosso could taste this good. Excellent! 93 points.

3/5/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

I rarely drink reds that are this young, usually at least 5 years and lately I’ve been in the 10-20 year range. But I have 2 of these tucked away and picked up an extra one recently. SAQ staff said it was excellent decanted so I figured why not crack this bad boy tonight with braised lamb shanks.
I have to say this was so much fun just because it’s so young and different than what I’ve been drinking over the last few years. The wine itself is all primary at this point, red red fruit such as strawberry and raspberries, with some cool floral notes coming across. Plate and finish is fruit driven with freshness and medium acidity. No mouth drying tannins that I detected. You can really smell and taste the grenache here. After about 90 minutes you can feel some heat on the finish. This wine is great now if you like ripe fruit, but I suspect it will come together in 2-3 years and be excellent somewhere between years 10-15. A great example of CDP, a high quality wine.

3/4/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Tignanello 2006
Opened at 5PM. No decant. First pour at 6:30. Nose explodes with baking spices, led by cinnamon, with overlays of brett , red fruits, menthol and chocolate. On the mid-palate it starts off austere but on the finish it comes together with incredible coordination, flavours of cedar tree and chocolate and a splash of floral notes. Long finish with freshness, balance and minerality.
By 8PM after supper (steak) the nose is still blasting, but feels more like 🍒 and leather with balsamic reduction and cooked jam. The palate and finish is ultra smooth, soft, plush, but with proper power that lingers. This wine seems to be in a perfect place. Better than the last 2 times I’ve had it. Not sure it improves but will hold for another 2-3 years. Drink now and enjoy! 95 points given the consistency and pleasure throughout the night.

2/22/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Good notes from Xavier and Jeff below. Part of a 6 bottle Bordeaux tasting. Best of the bunch on this night. Nose is cherries and chocolate, perfumey and medicinal. In the mouth it’s soft and silky, with a luscious finish that’s stewed dark fruits. Mmmm this is really excellent. It’s wonderful on its own but also handled that cheese and pâté platter with ease.

2/22/2023 - FabesMTL wrote:

Part of a 6 bottle BDX showdown. This was the oldest of the bunch. It’s tertiary with wet leaves and brown apple, overall past its prime and the finish fades fast. Fun for a half glass but that’s it.

2/18/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Solid effort. Drinking well and lots of life left. Decant changes the outlook. At the onset it’s classic dusty cherries but after it blows over it really becomes more focused on tomato vine and stewed tomatoes with hints of spice and floral notes. Green herbs all around. There’s a fair bit of grip on in the palate but it smoothes out for the finish. Not sure there’s much improvement but it’s a good QPR you can drink now or lie down for another 3-7 years. Excellent with pasta. 92.

2/17/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

First of all, I concur with all the notes below (well done wine community). This wine has a bit of everything going on. Bottom line: excellent.
Here are my notes:
Out of the gate:
Nose of blue and black fruits. Tar. Dark cherries. White pepper, menthol and eucalyptus. Mouth is rich and voluptuous, initially some drying tannins with a long, hot and powerful finish. Blueberries and blackberries in the mouth.
A little while later with burgers: nose settles down to reveal more freshness, a certain mineral structure with saline and hints of graphite and red fruits.
The pallet becomes fresh as well, less brute force and more toned muscle, a lovely long finish with dark fruits and subtle vanilla overcoat. Oooh that vanilla is a nice twist at the end. Wow I haven’t had one of these in years, either it’s different than I remembered or my taste buds have evolved (a bit of both probably!). A well made wine, nice to return to the nouveau monde once in a while. Well done. 93.

1/28/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this wine. More plush and soft than the chiseled ‘05 had last fall. Classic nose of cassis, cherry, chocolate and cedar. A soft feel in the mouth and an elegant, soft finish that lingers, prefect balance and acidity. More fruit driven, reminded me of a California cab, but not overpowering. Really enjoyed.

1/22/2023 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Same notes as 2 years ago. This wine is consistent and never disappoints. Can’t wait to get my hands on some more.

12/24/2022 - FabesMTL wrote:

It’s in a good place. Nose is a bit muted, palate is soft and mature, smooth finish but lacks a bit of a follow through and some zing. It’s an elegant wine, I suspect it will show much better in stronger vintages. Good but not spectacular.

12/23/2022 - FabesMTL wrote:

Clearly an old wine, cloudy and brick-like colour. Nose, after some uncertain funk, explodes with baking spices, spearmint, cedar and wood. On the palate it feels dry and old but packs loads of spice and some still ripe fruits. It has a nice lingering finish that goes for a bit then suddenly stops. Definitely a bit past it’s prime but fun to drink something old like this.

12/10/2022 - FabesMTL wrote:

Seems folks have enjoyed this wine but I was slightly underwhelmed. The nose came and went. When it was on, it showed black earth, fresh cut cedar and reddish cherries. But then it would disappear without notice. Palate and finish snow a lean, muscular, and still slightly tannic and austere wine. It’s good but didn’t reach the heights I was looking for. Suspect it needs more time in the cellar, could improve in 3-7 years. I also suspect most 2000s are still not at their peak. Patience required.

12/6/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Popped ‘n poured. Light red color, minimal signs of age.
The nose is, as a reviewer below says, totally entrancing. Initially, black earth, but it blows over quickly to reveal spices, cherry, liquorice, and this bizarre medicinal absorbine junior like minty note. Entrancing…
The mouth is light but with muscle, chiseled but easy drinking, with a slightly woodsy, serious and muscular finish. Excellent wine, entering its prime with a good 5 years still to go, at least. 95 for for me, maybe more.

11/26/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Love this wine. So much going on here.
Pop n pour, to reveal aromas of soft pineapple, drops of lemon, mint and lemongrass. On the palate its medium acidity, lovely feel and a crisp finish with almond paste coming across.
It ends up opening up more with more oaky notes but the refreshing crisp finish remains. Buttered popcorn but in an elegant manner, not knock you in the face oaky Cali style. Could take any Puligny or Meursault. Bravo Monsieur Barrett. Bravo 👏👏

11/11/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Color is a perfect ruby red, with ever so slight rosé and clearness at the rim.
Nose is powerful and evolves with air and time. Initially, baking spices and red red fruits (cherry, strawberry). After some air, the aromas shift to black pepper, liquorice and hint of root beer. Finally, some smoke and green leaf.
In the mouth it feels like lighter red fruits, raspberries. The finish, at first a bit rough, settles down with masculinity and power. Feels like it’s at its peak, but could last another 3-10 years. Would be fun to revisit in 2030. Very good.
PS: the wine needs food. Also, decant one hour or more.

11/5/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Clearly a young wine and very primary. The nose is blasting with over ripe strawberries and nice blueberries. There are hints of raw meat, eucalyptus, cooking spice (cumin?) and wood that come and go.
The pallet is rich and slightly syrupy. Good strong, grippy and lingering finish. Should age well. A 92 for now with definite upside. Needs air, decant one hour.

10/22/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Third and last bottle. Drank all 3 over the last 3 years. This one was by far the weakest. Not sure if it’s bottle variation or just past it’s peak. Nose of dried figs and dry red fruits, topsoil and smoke. Plate is medium bodied with some acidity, the finish is dry light red fruits and some earth and leaves. Still pleasant but lacks a bit of depth and punch. Drink up.

10/19/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Phenomenal. Nose of cassis, chocolate, prunes and dusty raspberry/cherry. Palate is medium bodied, medium tannins, ultra smooth. Long lingering finish. Just lovely. Drink now or hold another 1-2 years. Great effort.

10/14/2022 - FabesMTL wrote:

Initial nose of barnyard and black earth. Needs lots of air. Eventually the nose opens up to some blue fruits, with some minerals and that sweet Margaux perfume. It’s soft in the mouth with perhaps some chocolate, mint and graphite. Decent finish. Maybe a sign of the vintage but I expected a bit more. Lacks focus. Needs 3-4 hours of air or 5 more years. 91 with limited upside.

9/24/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Good wine, fruits and earth. Getting better with time. 5 left in the cellar I will wait a bit more.

9/24/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Excellent wine. Soft texture and mature but with nice spice and fruits. Drink now.

8/13/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

This is by no means a trophy wine but definitely a bargain for the quality. Very muted nose throughout, but…lovely mouth, pallet and finish. Feminine in style like it’s big sister Mas La Plana. Bursting with cherries and mild milk chocolate notes, with a somptuous smooth finish. I have 2 more and will camp on them to see the evolution.

8/12/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Bursting nose of red fruits with tons of spices and a leathery overlay. Pallet shows fruit an spice and medium oak. A tad syrupy, but melted tannins. Should age for another 3-7 years.

7/31/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Tig 2007
Last of 2, had the first 4 years ago and it was meh 😒
This one is just entering its drinking window.
Smashing nose of cherries, cooked dark fruits and green tomato 🍅 vine
Settles into a crowd pleasing, silky smooth cherry 🍒 chocolate 🍫 bomb with accompanying spices. melted tannins and a ridiculously velvety smooth finish. It’s more feminine than the 05 and 06. If you have, drink now through 2027. Fantastic.

5/13/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

No formal notes but a pleasant wine for the price. Picked up a few more.

5/7/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Pride Mtn vineyard Reserve cab sauv. 2005
Color is dark ruby with slight browning at the edges.
Nose is very complex, intense perfume, earth, lovely baking spices, dark and red fruits, dark plums/prunes, red cherries, minerals, chocolate, earth, dry wood, green herbs, green pepper, mushrooms, cucumber.
Grippy tannins that attack the mouth, with cherries, cocoa and wood. After some time, the tannins melt and it’s a smooth and pleasant experience. Add green pepper on the palate and finish. Smooth, rich, silky. Mature fruits, not overpowering, graceful. Drink now or hold 3-5 years. 94 points. Top notch for a Cali.
(Interesting that there was no barnyard smell at first which I think is more of a Bordeaux feature).

3/26/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Excellent wine. Lots of power. Red fruits and chocolate with some pepper and spice. Wish I had decanted it more. Probably needs a good 2 hour decant. Also can cellar another 10 years easily.

3/19/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Out of the gates it was weak, did not decant. Needs decanting for next time. After 20-30 minutes it’s in a great place and kept getting better. Really juicy and yummy. Drink or hold. Excellent.

3/19/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Excellent, chiseled, strong wine that would’ve been a great pair with rib steak. Sweeter and more fruits (dark and blue fruits) than the Pichon. An excellent wine on its own but not quite as much complexity as the Baron. Drink or hold. Regarding the funk/barnyard, we got that too but we did a double decant and it eventually blows over. It needs a lot of air and time.

3/19/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Dark and dense color. Initial notes were of chocolate, leather, coffee, blonde tobacco, mocha. Paused before supper. During supper it showed more fruits and spice. Tons and tons of layers, elegant muscle and length. Still very young. Drank alongside ‘05 Montrose. See separate notes. Different styles. Montrose was great but this was better.

2/16/2022 - FabesMTL wrote:

Good reviews below, agree with many of them.
Overall good but wouldn’t rush to buy again.
Pop n poured, initially I was like yuck, I almost poured it down the drain. Especially on the heels of a Lafon Rochet a few days ago. Not the same league…
Anyways, eventually it opens up to a very spicy, peppery, light red fruit machine. Voluptuous in the mouth with a nice clear finish, a hint of acidity and fair tannins. Back to the nose and it’s gooey chocolate brownies with sour cherries and some root beer/cola. It’s well made and deserves some respect but not my cup of tea. Recommend cellaring 8-10 years. I have one more bottle which I’ll revisit in a couple of years.

2/10/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Second wine of La Nerthe. Didn’t know there were second wines in CH9. Medium ruby color. No obvious signs of aging. A mellow nose overall, there are hints of mature light red fruits, hints of provençales 🌿 herbs, hints of menthol, hints of earthy spice. It’s ultra smooth in the mouth and no tannic presence makes it go down like water. Not overly complex but happy to have aged this one. Solid effort. 91.

2/6/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Very light in color, typical of Barolo. Almost pinkish at the rims with a light ruby color the middle of the glass. Light to medium body.
Nose initially restrained but opening up. Sour cherries, hints of baking spices, a bit of vegetal green. Underripe red fruits in the mouth. Slightly grippy tannins but they don’t linger, refreshing and a tad acidic. Probably could use more cellar time but in a good spot now. It’s hard to rate Barolos with a score, they don’t blow me away but but they are always consistently good. This is a perfect example of the terroir. Very good.

1/15/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Following on the footsteps of the Fiorita Brunello from last night, which had a big nose and was a darker garnet color. This Castello di Brolio is a beautiful medium bodied, ruby color wine. Decanted. Nose is restrained. Animal, raw meat. Slightly floral. Not tannic but feels very alcoholy. Initial conclusion after having some other ‘15 Tuscans/SuperTuscans is that they aren not quite ready but should have a long cellar life.
Night 2: last night it almost felt like a Barolo, it was lighter in body and had some floral essence going on. Today it’s a more serious, heavier Chianti. Red cherries and liquorice, rosemary, and some minerals. Nice in the mouth and good finish, it’s good but will be better in 5-15 years.

1/14/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

A stunner of a wine. This was a random pick up 2 years ago to backfill my cellar.
Racy and full bodied Italian.
Nose is bursting with cherries 🍒, raspberries, strawberries 🍓, baking spices, dark red flowers, black pepper, green pepper, French vanilla, wet clay, tomato sauce, dust/smoke.
Mouth is dusty with fruit, cocoa, floral and persistent tannins that melt away but leave a nice aftertaste. No need for water this is so refreshing and tasty. Don’t wait, drink this now it’s so good !
Maybe I’m out to lunch but this is a a gem - 95.
Night 2: still very complex nose, caramel pop corn, dry fruits, liquorice, and you can smell the alcohol (15%). Mouth is ultra smooth. Fantastic.

1/7/2022 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Phenomenal wine. Well worth the wait. Drinking well now but I wonder if it could get even better in 5 years.
Cocoa and spices, orange zest and graphite. Color is light/medium body but it’s heavier in the mouth. Cocoa, strawberry and provençales herbs in the mouth. Long aftertaste. Well integrated, comes together nicely. Yum.

12/31/2021 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Cork was perfect. Pulled at 5pm. Color is ruby red, medium to full bodied, turning slightly brick like but no clearness at the edges.
First 30 minutes: nose is oozing stink and smelly barnyard (5:30). Pallet showing wood, good texture, tannins melted away, ever so slight watery ness at the very end. Very good.
6:30-7: barnyard is less present, still lingering, dark brooding fruits are permeating. Meaty. Good pair with rib steak.
9:30: last few sips from the glass and it’s going down like fresh water on a hot summer day. Delicious. 1/3 left for tomorrow.
Conclusion: it was good, nothing mind blowing but I think a 4 hour decant might help.
Updated on night 2:
Tasting much more like aged Bordeaux. Perfumey and luscious nose of dark cherries and cooked prunes and plums, and the lingering meatyness from last night is gone. Hints of green pepper and chocolate on the nose that also comes across in the mouth and finish. Much better tonight - last night it was barely a 90, tonight closer to 93.

12/25/2021 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:

Medium bodied, slightly clear rim but bright ruby red overall. Nose of red and dark fruits, chocolate, hint of smoke and pepper (black/white). Pallet is medium bodied, the tannins are still quite present. Smooth finish. I reckon this can hold another 5-10 years.