February 4, 2024 - It's been 20 years since my last note for this wine. But, it was worth waiting for! Still offering intensity, length, purity, complexity, and freshness, as well as a rich palate loaded with olives, herbs, leaves, black pepper, cherries, strawberries, and kirsch, the spicy, expressive finish seems endless. What a wine. What a Rayas! Drink from 2024-2032.
September 29, 2021 - A very much middle-aged example. Darker fruit than some bottles. 96-97
May 21, 2020 - Purple fruit complementing the red with elegant spices and floral notes. 95-96
August 31, 2019 - Corked.
May 12, 2017 - World's Greatest - Night II (Daniel): Subtle nose that has drying red roses and rare roast beef. Dense and rich. Decedent. Kapon provided a pretty good argument as to why and how this is in a great place right now, and it certainly is, but the '76 just has so much more nuance over power.
June 27, 2016 - Incredibly young bottle with layers of red and black fruit, soil tones, light spice, and defined by supple acids. Smooth and silky on the palate but having lost none of its structure. 97+
April 15, 2016 - Weekend with Eddie - Part 1 (Marea, New York City): Concentrated dark fruit driven nose, slightly dry blackberry and black cherry, coffee, leather and smoke. This particular bottle is quite soft and warm, nicely layered fruits, good acidity, fully resolved tannins and long finish. According to Eddie, not the best bottle. This is correct but not as energetic and expressive as I anticipated. Still an excellent wine.
September 5, 2014 - A brooding wine with a thick, red color and a potent nose sporting notes of dark fruits, truffles, wild game and spices. Voluptuous on the palate with amazing concentration and one of the biggest La Mouline's I've ever tasted. There is a beautiful deep core of dark cherry fruit along with mind-boggling intensity and an engaging smokiness plus some musty, gamey flavors. The finish is just endlessly complex with notes of slate, leathers, smoked meats and extraordinary spices. At peak now and just an incredible tasting experience.
August 11, 2010 - So smooth, magnificently rich and long. A classic Rhone, big quality. Yum.
November 10, 2004 - The perfume was explosive. Overripe blackberry, plum, strawberry and raspberry, coupled with spice, flowers, truffles and smoke which become more concentrated in the glass. The decadent layers of fruit and glycerin has to be tasted to be believed! Countless layers of soft, exotic textured red and black fruit overload your senses with pleasure. The seamless finish seems like it lasts well over one minute! .