A. Bergère
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1985
No formal notes . Quite deep ruby , garnet , thin garnet rim . This is quite open and aromatic , with a spicy , herbaceous cassis , truffle , tobacco , grafite hints , very classic and serious but also really attention grabbing . On the palate this is quite rounded and juicy for Las Cases , good mineral , grafite tinged cassis , quite fine but present tannins , balanced acidity with a tobacco tinged finished and pretty good length . Drinking well now but also can go a while yet, perhaps over the next 10 or so years . — 9 days ago
Krug
Brut Champagne Blend 2003
Rounded and plush. Hints of cherry, bread, stone. A little lacking in vivacity in the mid palate. Rounded. — 14 days ago
A. Rafanelli
Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 1997
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cherry lozenges, star anise, leather, horse blanket, black pepper, organic earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I recently got to spend some time with Ren and Marilyn Harris of Paradigm and he shared with me that he thought Zinfandel was a variety that has the potential of being longer lived than Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t argue with him. Anyway, this is a killer Rafanelli Zinfandel that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink now through 2037. — a month ago
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975
Medium deep garnet with a terracotta rim . This has some sous bois , earthy tobacco , coffee grinds , herbal touches , cedar and dried currants . On the palate this is quite dense and classic in profile , still quite a lot of tannin , sous bois , cedar , some cassis , tobacco and a little herbal. Quite stocky and chunky . Medium length , and balanced acidity . This is still quite dense on the palate , with grippy , slightly rustic tannins . Probably just past peak , but will hold over the next 5 years or so . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London …. No label on the bottle ! — 12 days ago
Château de Beaucastel
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2012
From 375ml.
A very good Rhone producer visited in 2015.
At pop & pour, the fruits almost had a mid berry bubble gum character. That toned down almost immediately. Fruits are ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked plums, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy strawberries, chocolate bar to fudge, grilled, smoked meats, black pepper, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, iron pan, black tea, a touch of rubber toy, slight tarriness, dry herbs, roasted chestnuts, tobacco leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, hints of mint, dark, red flowers, violet’s, nice acidity with a well balanced-structured, stiffly tensioned with a lush finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on earthiness & spice.
Plenty of life left in this 2012, even in 375ml. — 18 days ago
Château d'Yquem
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1990
Luscious, silky, sugary. Perfect with a classic Madeleine to end a luxurious French meal. — 17 days ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend 1983
Look at this mesmerizing color!
I’ve opened two bottles of Dom Pérignon 1990 before—one of them was in excellent condition, with rich brioche and yeasty notes. If not for the faint remaining bubbles, it could almost pass for an aged Bâtard-Montrachet.
This time, I opened a 1983 vintage, and this bottle has been kept perfectly—the fill level is high, with no oxidation. Upon opening, the tertiary aromas were enchanting: toffee, smoky notes, coffee, and a touch of mineral coolness, like standing on a rain-soaked Scottish cliff in the middle of a downpour.
After 30 minutes, secondary aromas emerged, adding layers of complexity: warm brioche and a hint of aged cheese. It felt like the sky had cleared after the rain—like stepping into a Scottish horse ranch, the tones warming up just like the wine’s golden hue, exuding creamy, toasted nuttiness.
Primary fruit aromas were gone, but the interplay of secondary and tertiary notes was already captivating enough. A well-preserved old Champagne like this is always a delightful surprise. I love its golden, diamond-like brilliance, its rich texture, and its perfectly balanced acidity. The more I drank, the more I craved—now I regret not buying an extra bottle. — 2 days ago
Jerry Raphael
Notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and a touch of cedar and tobacco. I popped the cork and started drinking it kept on opening and getting better with air. At the BH. — 2 days ago