A. Viloria

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2023 pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, cocoa, 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+. Tremendous balance. These will surely enjoy a long life. Drink now with patience through 2053. — 7 days ago

Tom, Daniel and 2 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

That had to be very big day 1.
Jay Kline

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@Somm David T yes, but the balance and complexity made it much more approachable in its youth than other recent vintages.

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2017

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a two days. Better on Day 2. On the pop and pour, this bottle was backward and really seemed resistant to show much. I didn’t detect any real flaws or faults…just sort of, “meh”. On Day 2, it had opened considerably. The 2017 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe blackberries, currants, mixed flowers, black tea, ferrous earth and a mix of cool and 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+. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 16 hours ago

Zach, Ira and 2 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Double decant and pour(some fine/cloudy sediment).  A striking still dark magenta color with bricking.   On the nose:  subtle perfumed notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, smoked meat, worn leather, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus.  Taste:  silky, balanced wine with some dried dark fruit, currants, earth, asian spice, dried herbs, and a graphite/dried cherry/coffee ground medium plus finish...lacks some depth and some still there sharp tannins gonna knock the score down.  — 12 days ago

Tom, Paul and 13 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Nice wine! I suppose you paired it with Papa John's pizza? 😉
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Dave Yep..classic Margaux pairing of Papa John Tuscan 6 cheese cheesesticks and their Philly cheesesteak pizza. Cheers!
Dave

Dave

Sounds divine

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

A touch dusty on the nose with gnarly dark fruit and some spices and wood notes. Soft on the palate and fully resolved. Pretty and lightly inky — 15 days ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Shay, Jay and 6 others liked this

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

When I’m not drinking a Napa Cab, and I’m having a fillet mignon, I reach for a Jordon. Blend of 87% Cab Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot & 1% Malbec, aged 13 months in 100% French oak (35% new). Deep Ruby red color with aromas of red fruit, floral and an array of herb spices. On the palate flavors of blackberry and raspberry with oak, vanilla spice, leather and cacao notes. Rich fine tannins, well balanced and integrated with fruit and oak. Very Nice! Will age well. Just had this at a chophouse, Nice! — 23 days ago

jesus, Sagee and 6 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak. — a month ago

RoAnne de WeerdTammy de Weerd
with RoAnne, Tammy and 2 others
Edo, Jan and 4 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak.

A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2018

Drinking great. Never over the top type Zin. But complex and very enjoyable — 19 days ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1959

Double decant and pour(decent sediment).  A remarkable still murky dark garnet with bricking.  On the nose:  Intoxicating perfumed notes of dark fruit, worn leather, smoked meat, touch of barnyard, tobacco leaf, mushrooms, mint.  Taste:  silky, fresh, regal, powerful wine with sweet red fruit, meaty, dried herbs, tobacco, mineral, and a earthy orange rind lingering finish with a slight tannic kick.  Amazing!!! YUM! — 5 days ago

Tom, Ira and 10 others liked this
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Tom Casagrande Great Bordeaux year to be born. The 59s and 61s are terrific, but unfortunately I was born in 1960. Hope you get a chance to try a 59 classified. Cheers!
Jan A

Jan A

@Tom Garland you were still made in '59 😎
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

That’s on a few people’s bucket list. Very nice.

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

From magnum. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2012 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with punchy notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, orange rind, red flowers, and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is almost chewy. The 2012 is still an awesome value; really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2042. — 13 days ago

Tom, Jan and 6 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Savory and game. Great rich and pure plummy fruit with a hint of spice on the nose. Inky and balanced with iron and graphite. Stunning and balanced — 15 days ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Jay, Jan and 2 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2010

Ming L
9.4

The nose bursts with ripe yellow peach, mandarin, and dried pineapple, layered with brioche and a hint of white flowers. The palate is plush yet electric, with creamy texture quickly cut by vibrant lemon zest and a light salinity. The finish is precise and long. — 3 hours ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1988

Super clean and still quite youthful, this is a GREAT example of a 1980s CdP from a vintage of little surmaturite, so awesome balance and perfect acidity suggests this vintage will easily last another 5-10 years!! — a month ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Scott@Mister, Tom and 5 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

What a triumvirate of CDPs!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, another example of a great bottle outperforming critical reviews — of the 3 CdPs, the ratings given years ago would have been higher for the ‘89 Beau and ‘90 Pegau!!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.2

This 2006 was a tale of 1/2 of the bottle decanted in a wide decanter and the other 1/2 left in bottle. The bottom 1/2 bottle better than the 2 hour decant. The decanted part lost complete Bordeaux character, mid palate and depth. A shorter decant was in order, but that doesn’t mean this 06 is waning. It has another 7–10 yrs from bottle.

2006 was the vintage that followed the grand 2005 vintage, not an entirely fair growing seasons. Based on the 2005 vintage, the Bordelaise overpriced the 2006 vintage. The Bordelaise disappointed in the price they sold 2005’s looked to make up their perceived losses in 2006. Except, the quality wasn’t the same. Not even close.

The nose shows brambly, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries and lean raspberry edges. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark chocolate bar, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather,. softy layered baking spices, black licorice-tarriness, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender.

The palate is ripe, juicy w/ medium, rounded tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, strawberries and lean raspberry. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark & slightly melted chocolate, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, softy layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, mid dark spices w/ some palate heat, black licorice-tarriness, dry herbs, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dry top soil, moist, grey, volcanic clay, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender, very nice acidity, nicely balanced, well structured/tensioned w/ an elegant finish that lasts a minute plus and lands on earth & spice with mid intensity palate heat.

92 decanted. 93 the bottom 1/2 of the bottle, not decanted.
— a month ago

Scott@Mister, Daniel and 9 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

1999 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand. Solid cork with approx 50% saturation. Decanted and tasted after two hours. That decided Lynch-Bages medium heavy bod. Has dropped some, not all, of the overt primary fruit load. Pleasant spices and feminine characteristics easily noted and cataloged. Pretty harmonious now tho with a little chunkiness/tannic blessing as more of a fleeting kiss vs a big hug. Could easily go another decade in this ensemble. 6.14.26. — 4 days ago

Daniel, Jeroen and 7 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

A big brooding breast. Intense and slightly feral. Powerful deep fruit, ferrous notes, pepper and a hint of band aid. Really present and powerful but still refined. A great wine — 15 days ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Shay, Jay and 4 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986

Poured into a decanter to remove sediment prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 1986 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, green bell pepper, tobacco, dried purple flowers, earth and fine cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (integrated) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A solid but somewhat demure showing, particularly in the midpalate. Drink now. — 13 days ago

Tom, Jan and 6 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Smooth and rich with pronounced berry fruit. I prefer a bit more earthy and forest floor but still a nice accompaniment to rack of lamb. — 11 days ago

Naveen Chopra
with Naveen

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

Still fresh but definitely lots of secondary notes. Pear and wet stone and a light sweetness and salinity. Good tension. Excellent — 15 days ago

Ara AslanianPaul Woolls
with Ara and Paul
Shay, Bob and 4 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Jan A
9.9

Peak, flirting with perfection. Others called out farm/barnyard notes, I thought it was more hansaplast plasters. Anyways, this was very Bordeaux for a napa wine and very napa for a Bordeaux blend. Catching the perfect balance between sweet napa generosity and cooler bdx notes. — 25 days ago

Peter, Sharon and 11 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Yah...jelly. Always wondered about how those completely sealed wax tops fared as the wines aged. I suspect we are finding out exactly noww...such a favored producer.

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1990

Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — a month ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Jay, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Of course Doug! Laurence has some magic in her.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Jay Kline, my brother and I visited Laurence once, in 2005, what a phenomenal lady she was, climbing all over barrels to get samples, we finished with the very youthful 2004, we both thought it great, and she said she wasn’t sure at that point about the 2004!! Great visit!!