A. Scherer

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

Zach, Paul and 13 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.3

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.
— 15 days ago

Jay, Scott@Mister and 18 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Beautiful, intensely perfumed nose. Ripe cherries, wildflowers, orange zest, beautifully broad and full-bodied. Ripe, full-bodied, powerful, yet elegant. A wine that excels in its details. An iron fist in a velvet glove. — 18 days ago

Eric, Jan and 3 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1990

Luscious, silky, sugary. Perfect with a classic Madeleine to end a luxurious French meal. — 14 days ago

Dave, Douglas and 11 others liked this

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 ! — 9 days ago

Dave, Tom and 15 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2020

I can sit and sniff this for 20 minutes without taking a sip. Tonight I'm pairing it with a little Chicago deep dish and the Drive By Truckers. — 19 days ago

Pooneet, Doug and 15 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Such an excellent producer!!
Dave

Dave

Consistently good! @Doug Powers

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2013

jesus g
9.1

Quick stop, booking a reservation. Great menu btw — 6 days ago

Andrew, Andrew and 16 others liked this

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 . — 6 days ago

Dave, Bob and 12 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2003

Rounded and plush. Hints of cherry, bread, stone. A little lacking in vivacity in the mid palate. Rounded. — 11 days ago

Douglas, Bob and 8 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2024

Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of black currants, black plums, and cedar. On the palate, it's dry, medium acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and a pronounced intensity of primary and secondary flavors. It tastes like blackberries, eucalyptus, graphite, and black cherries with a long finish. This wine is a little off balanced (the eucalyptus flavor is a little too intense), complex, and intense. Overall, I would rate it as very good. Nellie liked it with steak. — 4 days ago

Nellie Bauman
with Nellie