Dark fruit and gravel, with a drying effect that signals another decade+ is needed to get into full consumption mode here. Both dark and higher register cherry notes, with mineral elements washing…
This is my fourth time sampling this beauty, and it is as consistent as the day is long; the 2020 Cheval Blanc is all about class and refinement, with perfectly defined red and purple berry flavors…
Fresh and floral, this vintage of Lafleur may not have the sheer intensity or density of other vintages, but its refinement and lift are unmatchable. Red and purple berry, bushels of pink and white…
Black and red cherry, muddled strawberry, tobacco leaf, cedar, and earth. A fine food wine, but a bit mushroomy for my taste. Lacks depth and profundity. Medium-minus on the finish. Drink now.
This was best after half the bottle was recorked (not gassed) and left in a cold cellar for three days. Modern, dark, and powerful, but sans the heat after the third day. Let these lie for a number…
A decent amount of fruit is still alive and kicking here, with signature cherry and plum notes intermingling with some soil and leather flavors. Dried roses and river rock flavors make an appearance…
Leather, sherry, soil dusted plum, and caramel. This bottle was an interesting curio, but seemingly either past its prime or had some storage issues perhaps. or a combination of both. Fun to try but…
More graphite and mineral elements here than the 2021 Futo Oakville served next to it (blind), the 5500 carries similar class but with some red fruit notes that make for a higher register delivery…
A fair amount of funk on the nose gives way to a mild-mannered and sound delivery of cedar, tobacco, macerated cherry and plum, soil, sherry, and caramel notes. Slightly grainy on the finish, but…
This is still working itself out, with some heat pushing the otherwise beautifully pure fruit to the side at times. There are moments of glory here, with pockets of textural genius that envelop and…
Ah yes, there's that hallmark heroic nose that only Lafleur seems to be able to conjure up. Floral (violets) and freshly washed red and purple berries. The palate is full of Miami dance club pop. A…
LOCKED UP TIGHT BRO! Completely forget about these for another two decades. A tannic monster that is fully weaponized and ready for all out war. Glory is sure to be had one day, but that day is not…
This was tight and tannic, with a stern entry of crunchy berry, rock, and cedar notes. I kept coming back to this wine as it tried to relax its grip, but it wasn't giving up much of the goods. What…
Soft earth-laced berries, red and black currant, plum, a slight kiss of mushroom, and leather notes make for a classical showing from a nicely aged wine. It's drinking time here, and seemingly at the…
Though this shows as a little yesteryear in performance, it is nonetheless an aptly alluring example, and one with which I wish I had spent a little more time. Slightly sluggish on entry, but with a…
It's been eight years since I've had this wine and it appears to be showing its age in anti-Benjamin Button fashion. It feels like another flashy 2007 that is tanking faster than it should (looking…
More black fruited than I would have expected given its age, but the leather and soil elements waltz in and provide a layer or two of complexity that holds interest. It's a little Plain Jane in…
After a strong showing from a 1996 I had a bit ago, I was hoping this 1982 might offer up a similar profile with just a little more age on it to showcase tempting tertiary notes and classical Lalande…
Funky, tired, and fairly flat. There were grumblings about possible questionable storage here, which I unfortunately think to be the case. Cheval is one of my favorite Right Bank houses, but I think…
I had the 2005 VCC a few years ago and it was pretty funky and heady. This bottle is 'certan'ly less 70's afro show, but it lacks some energy, slouching around with bad posture for most of…
Interestingly, I found this 1989 Montrose to be much more awake and fresher than a funky 1990 Montrose I had a while back. Mulch, forest floor, and tobacco leaf are beautifully counterbalanced by…
A solid performance, though a bit outshone by the 2003 Scarecrow next to it, the 2006 Maya offers soft dark berry fruit and forest floor elements that caress the palate and flow through the delivery…
