10/10/2023 - wondersofwine Likes this wine:

Old gold color. Some petrol on the nose but doesn't detract on the palate. The wine has sweetness but is restrained enough to be balanced with the natural Riesling acidity. I find it hard to stop after a few sips--the urge is to continue sipping it. Hints of honey, white flowers, jasmine and ripe pear. It held up in the refrigerator for a month after opening!

10/17/2023 - wondersofwine wrote:

I included this in a wine tasting in my retirement community. In my opinion the wine was not showing at its best on this day. It came across as brooding, maybe because it was paired with a Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir West Ridge from the Sonoma Coast. Normally I like wines from M-S-D "Les Millandes" and still have one from Arlaud to try but will not assign a rating on this occasion.

6/11/2022 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

Bottle 2, this one bought by my ever generous client Edwin (at 185E, slightly topping my spend on the Montrose) for rooftop drinking for our last night in BDX (see my notes for the ‘08 Montrose for aeration/chilling ablutions). On the nose and palate, the usual BDX dark berries, but accompanied by unusual amounts of black cherries and cassis, spice, earthy minerality, light toasted oak and tobacco and wheelbarrows full of barnyard. Deep purple with the lightest touch of brown, medium to full bodied, thick legs. Medium+ tannins and acidity, better integrated than any wine I drank this week other than the Latour), no heat. VG++ complexity, VG+ persistence and intensity. Not unlike the Pavie and Latour, except both cheaper and both Left Bank, this wine was a bit the superego to the Montrose’s id. As someone, at least on the CA side, at the far end of patience/aging, I have to quibble with anyone who says that this isn’t ready yet, at least with proper aeration. The structure is all here and very tangible, but it’s balanced by really great fruit, and while I’d not had this bottling before (I’m a sometime drinker of LB and when I’m lucky and flush, LC—whose relationship with this chateau, if any, I can’t speak to, but after a week in BDX, I still have no idea why multiple wineries named Leoville, Figeac and Beausejour doesn’t create some kind of trade name/TM issues), this knocks the cover off the ball, and for my palate, left the far more angular Montrose in its wake. Like the Montrose in type if not degree, this suffered from being consumed alone, as, truth be told, from my CA perspective, the BDX cocktail wine hasn’t been invented, and this wouldn’t be the first. That said, as a sometime critic of BDX for hiding the fruit like a NYC hustler game of hide the pea, this was exceptionally giving and generous, and while the structure tells me that this should should hold well for at least 10-20+, I’m not sure it will improve, and if I were lucky enough to have multiple bottles like some of my CT friends, I’d pop one stat, then stagger the others out over the years to come. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for this one along with the LB as a potential BDX in its (relatively) reasonable price range). 96-97++

4/8/2022 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine:

Brought to Hall's Chophouse, Columbia SC. HIGHLY recommend this wine right now, in an excellent drinking window and at the average CT acquisition price a very good QPR wine right now. Very much disagree with the CT drinking window - at prime right now with enough fruit and integrated oak present for several more years of excellent drinking with proper storage, I would put the outside drinking window ~ 2030 - '32 and expect some degradation by then. Let sit in glasses tableside to air before consumption but if possible would recommend a 45-60 minute decant. Mid-purple, some peripheral bricking starting to be noticed, beautiful soft mouth feel, full bodied, very well balanced and integrated and a beautiful long lingering aftertaste present. Intense aromatic nose of more dark strawberry then raspberry, dark cherry, lilac, kitchen spices and a note of white pepper on the end. Unfortunately our last bottle. As good and as satisfying a flavor profile as I have ever come across with a Napa merlot - full bodied, serious core and backbone, up front more an integrated lighter more cedar then oak note with initially dark stone fruit giving way almost immediately to more raspberry then strawberry on the palate as well as dark cherry, leather, warm kitchen baking spices and a more smokey and slightly sweeter tobacco and mocha finish.

3/13/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:

Working on a “drink the good stuff” philosophy, I opened this for a Monday dinner with leftovers. Why not! Initially as stern as an angry nun teaching 8th graders, it mellowed out over two hours, though never became soft or cuddly. Instead it maintained a perfectly starched collar, dark tie, and well tailored suit level of elegance, with a warm smile and engaging banter. Honestly it carried the image of the late Anthony Barton. Classic Bordeaux, it showed all the aged tobacco, understated cassis fruit and firm tannins, even more than twenty years after what was at one time considered a “modern” vintage. It demanded a rare ribeye, but alas it was not to be. Still, this feels like a wine that is emerging into a mid-life stage, with ample substance to carry on for as long as necessary. Just be sure to dress for dinner.

4/29/2021 - Rgentile wrote:

crimson in color with cool nose of black cherry, blood orange, pine needle and wet rock. The palate showed brighter red fruits, bing cherry, pomegranate, the mineral rock and some earth kicking in slightly. Overall needs a little more time but some great potential here coming. Enjoy!

12/24/2020 - matt5588 Likes this wine:

Being a Tignanello fan for many years, I found the 2012 one of my favorites. Decanted for about 45 minutes and the aromas were great on the nose and taste full of a variety of berries.

8/8/2020 - Vancouver Does not like this wine:

No formal tasting note- a buddy came by to drink- in a socially distant fashion- in my back yard.

Classic Brunello from a great year. Excellent concentration and a long life ahead.

10/26/2020 - Rieslingfan wrote:

I promised myself that I would drink this before any potential premox got to it, and so I did. Monday leftover night, and what the heck,
let’s have grand cru Chablis! It’s still fresh and bracing, even a little reductive. It has the depth and stoniness of a limestone quarry, accompanied by lemon squirt fruit and struck match reduction. It’s a pretty fascinating bottle, especially for a middle of the pack Chablis producer. 2014 raised this boat!

9/25/2020 - ggj wrote:

Dazzling.

9/25/2020 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Best bottle yet, lovely aged red fruit, black cherry & raspberry floating in the background, light wood/earth, excellent balanced acidity, integrated tannin, nice fullness on the palate and lovely long finish. With sautéed chicken of the wood over truffle pasta. Lovely pinot and good qpr.

6/24/2020 - wondersofwine Likes this wine:

Labeled as 13.5% abv. CellarTracker notes say this would be better in 2 to 5 years but is enjoyable now. I am opening the first bottle and will save my second bottle until 2022 or later. This IS enjoyable now. It has dark fruit notes (black cherries) and steeped tea with a long finish. There are some chewy tannins and hints of underlying minerals/iron notes. It is balanced and elegant. I am sorry to finish the final glass on day three but glad I have another bottle waiting in the wings.

8/1/2020 - jcampano Likes this wine:

Explosive red cherry fruit, plum and raspberry on the nose and palate. Decanted for an hour, it was spectacular with pasta alla bolognese.

1/23/2016 - CAQC wrote:

If your in the mood for a wine in this price range it's HARD to beat. Blackcherry, plum, Hay, barn, tea, geraniums, violets, cigar box, cedar, tobacco. Gorgeously harmonious integration of lots of different notes.

So friggin good. Lives up to the status.

Do I upgrade it from 4.5 stars to the coveted 5 star rating???

6/25/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:

A cellar orphan, no prior experience with this wine. Drinking very well right now without decant. Rich color, aromatic nose, strong berry/cherry flavors and some earth with plenty of tannins. Nicely mature but not yet old, quite admirable bordering on crazy-good for the $18 I paid in 2013. No sediment.

5/11/2020 - greydog Likes this wine:

Enjoyed with a full 4 course Italian luncheon. Opened and decanted 2 hrs before. SImply magical -- good nose and long legs. Dark fruit back tones, smooth aftertaste. A hint of aged leather ... a fantastic wine. Tignanello has always been one of my favorites and this one (unfortunately my last bottle of this vintage will not disappoint.

2/7/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:

At Bar Acuda, Kauai, $80 on list. Fantastic chardonnay, has everything right for place and vintage. Good concentration, focussed fruit, good complexity. I need to pay more attention to this producer.

12/31/2019 - ewits Likes this wine:

Good Pinot

11/24/2019 - salil wrote:

As good a white Burg as I've had in a while. Bright fruit and buttered popcorn with a mineral finish, showing the ripeness of the vintage in the best way possible with the fruit coming across luscious and ripe but never feeling heavy or soft. Love the balance and depth here, and this might convert me to buying this wine on a regular basis.

10/31/2019 - drrobvino wrote:

5th of 6 bottles. This is stupendous. Black currant, cassis, espresso grounds, anise, menthol. Everything in it's place, perfectly mature, with smooth and supple tannins and perfectly balanced acidity to help the finish go on forever. Drink now through 2024.

10/20/2018 - bartgerrits Likes this wine:

Super

3/18/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:

My wine. Was afraid the vintage would come across as California in a blind tasting, but it didn't. Tasty, complex, elegant.

12/8/2018 - TashNYC wrote:

Great nose and taste. Quite concentrated. Notes of cherry, blackberry, oak, herbs. Too big and powerful for the Atlantic Salmon but good on its own. At Karen’s new house and the day before Jen’s birthday.

6/14/2018 - Neecies wrote:

Not as expected based on three prior bottles. Initially, it's cherry pie-- red fruit and cinnamon spices with crust, more secondary than primary. But in the glass the wine gets cloudier and murkier, just literally falls apart. A sad end.

4/8/2018 - gildengorin Likes this wine:

Pale hay with hints of pink rose and tangerine color. Faint citrus and coconut aromas. Palate is alive, bright and full of ML-free acid. Grapefruit beginning, middle, and end. Pink grapefruit and Le Vie lemon drop finish. Lingering acid mid-palate.

2/19/2018 - drrobvino wrote:

This is quite delicious, showing the green pepper side of Cab Franc, with the black-fruited cassis, and some tobacco leaf and earthy flavors.
Tannins are still quite present, with med acidity and a long and satisfying finish. Drink now through 2022.

11/23/2017 - Char&Mark Likes this wine:

Very smooth choice for thanksgiving buffet at the club. Paired very well with everything, from roasted turkey and beef to the pumpkin ravioli and stuffing.

11/13/2017 - CWilliam wrote:

Much better than my last bottle tasted in 1/2014 that seemed off - this was more in line with my prior tastings in 10/2012 and prior:

"This has improved with age and starting to gain some secondary characteristics. Cassis, black cherry, cedar on nose. On palate, medium body, elegant mouthfeel, well integrated tannins, nice acidity & long finish. Cassis, cherry, black licorice on palate. Delicious. Very food friendly and great fruit" Cheating as this was my note from 10/2012 but this wine has aged extremely well. 92-93+

10/17/2017 - mmcdds Likes this wine:

This is one of my favorite Cali chards for the simple reason that it doesn't taste like a Cali chard. The oak treatment here complements the firm minerality and crisp acidity, rather than overpowering it and there's good depth and concentration for its price point. Quite nice!!

9/29/2017 - KVM wrote:

the struck match nose mainly dissipates with some swirling, revealing pear fruit. Plush, fresh pear and pineapple with a surprising and very appropriate wash of acidity. This 2009 is going strong!

1/28/2017 - Magnum PI Likes this wine:

Opened a bottle with spaghetti marinara, poured a glass out of the bottle, and decanted the rest. Lush, plenty of acid, tight, rich. Earth, berries, still pretty tight after an hour. I plan to buy a couple of cases and lay them down for a while. No hurry with this one. I give this one a 93.

Brookie is not drinking right now, but did use her nose. She gets floral, some licorice, dark fruit. She isn't giving it a rating because she isn't drinking, and by isn't drinking I mean she isn't talking to me. She's pissed because her house is a mess, and she asked me to take the garbage off the back porch, which I did, but I took it to the nearest trash can which was full, but I thought was was where it went. Turns out there is a second trash can out by the curb, which is empty, and the two are rotated, which I didn't know. So, Brookie thinks I took the garbage to the full trash can to deliberately annoy her, which was not the case.

I don't have any experience with aged Beaujolais, so this is pure conjecture, but I would l lay this down for 2-3 years before opening another. My score is fairly difficult to defend as I don't drink much Gamay, but this is likely the best bottle I have had. Would pair well with Cornish hen, rosemary chicken, quail, lamb with mint jelly, any steak.

Nice finish, moderate tannins, well made, good value.

6/18/2017 - BarryPaulPrice Likes this wine:

Appearance: Garnet with red rim tinged with hint of orange.
Nose: Black raspberry, plums, cassis, menthol, sandalwood, vanilla some tobacco on the back end.
Palate: Not plush fruit like a Cali merlot, more medium viscosity, a touch of that sanguine quality I like with my right bank plum-fruit. Deep and dark with nice concentration, resolved tannins showing up too with nice length (30-45 sec)

7/5/2017 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine:

At first showed green notes on the nose, but quickly faded to gorgeous red cherry and berry notes, so seductive. Beautiful red fruit textured palate, hints of gen and stem next cell balanced. Definitely on the more savory spectrum of CA Pinot, great with the crab cakes I served tonight.

7/2/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote:

High toned floral notes, berries and pretty linear. Not much going on for me. Preferred this chilled and enjoyed outside while barbq-ing.

5/12/2017 - daved Likes this wine:

Amazing,with a lot of life left. Raspberry and chocolate in the front of palate and a burst in the backside.

4/25/2017 - Canoehead Likes this wine:

This is a more muscular version of Lytton Springs Zin-blend than previous vintages tasted. Fruit is rather restrained. There is some structure here with a bit of tannic grip. Acid and alcohol are fighting for supporting roles. Just never got thrilling on the nose or palate. Probably could have improved a bit longer in bottle, 3-4 yrs possibly.
This wine continues to go up in price here in BC (>$60/btl) and just isn't worth the outlay. Rather splurge on Caymus Zin FOR $15 less!

3/24/2017 - wcf1946 Likes this wine:

Nothing special. Pleasant easy drinking red wine. Well balanced, little tannin, little finish, limited complexity. No heat. Would hardly know it's majority zin. Way overpriced.

12/5/2016 - wondersofwine Likes this wine:

Grenache/Syrah/Carignan labeled as 14% abv. This was one of two red wine bottles that fell off the table on Thanksgiving and broke so I went back to the store the day after Thanksgiving and finally got to try it at home. I enjoyed it. It has dark fruit and raspberry flavors accented by herbal notes. I think I'll go back this week for two more bottles and take one to an offline in Greensboro this weekend. It was about $22 at the retail shop and can probably be found for less in some places as North Carolina wine prices tend to run a bit high.

11/14/2016 - wineaux2 Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this one. Color was an eye-catching light neon pink. The nose was expressive with grapefruit and tart red fruits. Watermelon and tart strawberries were prominent on the palate, and were complemented by a citrus/citrus rind finish. Acidity was crisp but integrated well. Overall, just a nicely balanced, refreshing rosé without any confectionary notes. Very lovely.

11/5/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine:

Opened two days before. Showed quince and mango with a round saline quality that came across like buttered popcorn. Delish.

10/1/2016 - Tahoebrad Likes this wine:

A nice wine. Higher in acidity and alcohol. Very fruit forward but still refreshing. Definitely young but still balanced.

9/29/2016 - sawira wrote:

Bottle #2 of 6. This is so good, and so young. DO NOT TOUCH THESE FOR ANOTHER 7-10 YEARS, at least. Plenty of perfect balance, great fruit, superb acidity, and noticeable tannin on the finish. Will be phenomenal later. This could be a 30-40 year wine, seriously. 94+ pts.

9/1/2016 - wondersofwine Likes this wine:

14.7% abv. I liked this more than I expected to like it. It is a little hot from the alcohol but it has bright fruit and prominent spice. It suggests purple plums and perhaps spices from India. I'm not sure if the quality is bolstered by the age of the wine or by the inherent quality of the grape source--the Clos Pepe Vineyard--or both.

9/4/2016 - Kentw Likes this wine:

Aerated and decanted and at first taste was still a bit rough. Dark fruits, muted and rough tannins on the finish. Mid weight plus at the outset. I was somewhat disappointed given it has been cellared for 11 years. Would have rated it around an 85-86. But I was patient and had opened the bottle several hours before dinner. After 3 hours, the wine opened up significant with some added weight. Dinner was a Cowboy rib eye with grilled vegetables. It smoothed out, the dark fruits more present, the tannins softened and became an excellent companion to the steak. Suggest a long decant if drinking now or cellar for another 2 to 3 years. Note that others who have decanted for an extended period have found the wine much more pleasant.

6/29/2016 - Neecies wrote:

Oxidized.

1/2/2016 - fdaner wrote:

Consumed on NYE with some great friends. Opened and followed over 2 hours . This is a bruiser and the elegance, depth of fruit and fine grain tannin that showed so great young are starting to duck into the shadows. It's now time to bury these and let em sleep IMO. 2016 sounds about right to check in again.

4/25/2016 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine:

Strawberry preserves on nose & palate. Light-Medium bodied, with smooth tannins. Slightly vegetal, in a good way.

4/6/2016 - cerobo Likes this wine:

Such a lovely Coonawarra cabernet. Colour still a deep red. Mint and herbs on nose. Palate is medium bodied, soft tannins with fruit persistent and long. Balance is the key here. Shows what a bit of patience can do with Black Label.

4/6/2016 - brubron wrote:

Just had the second bottle of this vintage -- still beautiful, in perfect balance, and strong.
Had this with a wine group for dinner-- filet mignon with truffles. There were 6 different top flight wines and this one had the raves.

6/20/2015 - Neecies Likes this wine:

Stunning wine. A million times better than the wan and indifferent bottle we had a month ago--travel shock, maybe? Complex and balanced.