• Zoomin Z Likes this wine: 92 points

    March 18, 2024 - An expressive nose of violets, cigar tobacco, and while I initially thought only black fruits - after an hour of decanting - red fruits appeared in quite a pleasant fashion. Medium weight body with excellent balance and strong structure, the tobacco carrying through to the dry, savory finish. Really a nice, honest wine, earning every one of its 92 points. Enjoy now or in the near future.

  • timewithwine Likes this wine:

    December 26, 2023 - Decanted. Red brick on the rim then shading to plum at the core. The bouquet delivers plum, black currant, cassis and graphite, each with distinct etching on the senses. Flavors of leather and cigar wrapper emerge toward the finish. Very pleasing mouthfeel, but not seamless. Completely integrated tannins; very smooth. This wine will continue to hold its own, but there is no upside. Drink now. Not much sediment in this bottle. 13% alc. With Christmas leftovers of beef tenderloin. 12.26.23. Recommended leaning toward Highly Recommended.

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  • Khon Kaen Likes this wine: 90 points

    April 13, 2023 - Pop and pour. No formal tasting note. Lovely wine.

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  • timewithwine Likes this wine:

    January 16, 2022 - Popped and poured, more or less. The wine is deep, even opaque, in the glass but for some burgundy on the rim. The nose is deep with plum and cherry on the attack which his then joined by cedar, licorice, saddle leather, and mineral. The tannins are rounding off well but still have a little way to go. The wine still has considerable runway ahead of it. 13.5% alc. With (beef) club roast from Flannery’s under a mushroom and red wine. 01.16.22. Recommended.

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  • lake.vino Likes this wine: 91 points

    June 18, 2021 - Certainly a less structured more accessible take than their grand vin. Nose a good mix of currant, blackberry, blueberry, integrated oak notes of leather and tobacco. Some funk - perhaps bleu cheese like. Palate nicely balanced with tannins integrating but not missing. Good acidity. Certainly no hurry to drink this but it’s in a good place now. Fruit still retains dominance at 13 years though secondary development is there.

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  • Paradisedave Likes this wine:

    March 19, 2021 - Excellent

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  • timewithwine wrote:

    December 19, 2019 - Translucent plum from rim to core. Dusty rose, cassis, leather on the nose without the clear, distinct cigar box of the ‘05. The bouquet folds into the palate almost seamlessly. While vibrant, its medium weight first presents as a bit small next to the La Jota with its generous California fruit. Initially, the La Jota appears more attractive. But like a long evening in a dive bar, the flash of La Jota’s first beguiling impression begins to wear off while the constant quality of the Lalande-Borie begins to shine through. The flavors deepen and the finish lengthens. The wine evolves rather than making abrupt changes while the La Jota commences to get a bit trashy. As the evening progresses, the Lalande-Borie develops a finish of roasted tomatoes and anise. Almost no sediment. 13.5% alc. With pan-seared, oven finished hand-cut, (beef) filet mignon with JGW. Highly Recommended.

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  • Ken332 Likes this wine: 88 points

    January 28, 2018 - Very good, well structured non-classified St. Julien, served with sautéed duck breast. Cassis and spice in the nose, moderate tannins and acidity, moderate length. Very enjoyable with the duck.

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  • Ken332 Likes this wine: 88 points

    March 1, 2017 - Have enjoyed this wine on multiple occasions and have consistently rated it 87-89. As with the last tasting a year ago, cassis, wood and touch of spice in the nose and initial flavors, along with moderate, but not drying tannins (not bitter). I think the wine is at or near its peak, but should hold for several years.

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  • Lavan79 wrote: 89 points

    January 14, 2017 - Good for it's price

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