Classic Wines

No red left. This is brown like sewage. What a shame. Smells and tastes like sherry. Bad bottle, review withheld."Mikey's Grade" is a trademark of independent wine reviewer Michael Zimberg, and does not represent the views or opinions of ClassicWines.c... read more

Simple nose of peaches and apples. Nice full body, but plain Jane, this wine is a simpleton. There's very good balance. It plays second fiddle, even to the excellent bread at Country (in NYC). Not inspired. Not available at retail, probably about $80 a... read more

Tried this blind. Smells really unbelievable, and very ripe. At first I guess it is a syrah. Then someone says Dujac. There's a saline nose, like the ocean. Someone else says Meo (right), then '03 (also right). Black pepper, tannic and wild, savage, ru... read more

This is why I love red burgundy. Incrediby compelling aromas of pine, fresh tilled earth, mushrooms. Another wine to sit and smell for minutes. Astringent flavors at first. Then sour cherries, fall leaves, and not anywhere as good as the nose. But many... read more

One of my favorites, Guigal makes 3 special, single vineyard cuvees sometimes called La La (La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque). They are incredibly expensive, and when right, incredibly amazing, with dirty, funky aromas and a monstrous finish. 1985... read more

Drank this blind. Smells great! Even better than the '03 Meo Vosne Romanee. There's tomato, fennel, and cherry and cherry liquor. It is clearly at top flight burgundy. It is dusty. The palate is thinner than the Meo, and hiding more than it is showing,... read more

Drank blind. Inky, alcoholic and dark. I guess Sine Qua Non because it is obviously stylish. Someone else guesses Aussie Shiraz (right). Licorice, several flavors like jolly rancher candy (watermelon, grape), hard, slamming and hot, huge enormous almos... read more

I am quite happy with this wine. It is an outstanding example of an old world style syrah from the Rhone, made by a top producer, for a reasonable price. It is a luxurious purple. It smells like cracked pepper laced plums, and tastes like a delicious b... read more

I've enjoyed many versions of Lizzie's reserve in the past. This bottle is a disappointment however. It appears to be a perfectly aged bottle, with great fill and a near ideal cork (no mold, 3/4 wine stains). It is lightly colored, light bodied, acidic... read more

Pesenti is a historic vineyard, first planted in 1923, and Turley is a very consistent producer of this often jammy, one-dimensional grape. This is a good example of zinfandel from an excellent site made by a talented winemaker. It is a deep, dark, pre... read more

Yet another outstanding 2005 red burgundy. This one has a lovely, velvet ruby color. Boisterous dark fruit aromas with some mushrooms cascade through my head. The wine tastes delicious. I get bright, sweet fruit, but with lots of original character, im... read more

Burgundy is like poetry. Unlike Bordeaux (history), or Rhone (philosophy), it is probably impossible to assign an objective grade, especially at this quality level. Did anyone attempt to grade Walt Whitman's poems?This is a singular, unique, and utterl... read more