Clotilde Legrand
Les Lizieres Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc 2022
2022 vintage. Smoky and plummy with freshness throughout. Medium body but drank light-medium bod. Not as enamored with this region and Cab Francs as the average bear but this was banging. $14.27 a btl resto cost. Can't fit it onto the current list but it's on the radar and will look to potentially squeeze this or another future vintage into the offerings. Phenomenal value. 03.05.25. — a day ago
Ruinart
Brut Rosé Champagne 2004
2004 vintage. This was a highlight reel. Acidity, dirty, pretty, fabulous mousse, delicate, concentrated, fruit, long finish. It had it all at some point in the tasting experience. Looks to go long in this state…at least another 7-8 years (till 2033) without any noticeable dropoff. Can’t remember the last time I had a better rosé brut. Magical. 03.01.25. — 5 days ago
Château Lascombes
Margaux Merlot Blend 1996
1996 vintage. Really nice specimen. Opened (not decanted) and tasted after two hours. Unified earthy, funky, lived in BDX nose paired with medium body. Surprisingly, still a splash of baby fat evident on the cheeks along with a blue fruit accent. Ripe plum, cassis and leather followed. Drinking great currently with extensive follow-through on the finish and should hold as such till 2030. 02.28.25. — 6 days ago
Zotovich Vineyards
Z Heritage Blend Sta. Rita Hills Grenache Syrah 2018
2018 vintage. Oodles of color. Medium/medium-heavy body. Dark fruit. Hints of Plushytown. Plenty of spice and framework on the tannic end. Doesn't need more age/bottle conditioning as much as it could use an hour or two in a decanter. Nice now but plenty of potential. 03.05.25. — a day ago
La Rioja Alta
Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2017
2017 vintage. Extremely difficult to get past the coconut/pickles nose with the aggressive oak. Flavors better than scents currently. Could use an hour or two in a decanter or 7-8 years in the bottle to minimize said oak. Medium body. Will eventually lead the group on an epic hike but not in the next few years. 03.05.25. — a day ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2021 vintage. Interesting Napa cab in the mid-$20's a btl resto cost. Medium body. Same winemaker as Vineyard 29 but somewhat different stylistically. Those light/medium bodied wines have more mineral-driven style whereas this has more dark fruit (blackberry, plum, blueberry) and slightly more body. Both ride on the subtlety fringes and, correspondingly, this is more complimentary than demonstrative. Still, for the price (less than $30 a btl resto cost), great value. 03.05.25. — a day ago