Ah So

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

Somm David T
9.5

The last of the 2002 in mags brought from the property. Delicious. I would have thought these would have been saved for their member parties. So, a nice surprise.

From The Cellar event at Pebble Beach Food & Wine.
— 9 days ago

Jay, Neil and 17 others liked this
Ron R

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Looks like fun! Hope you had a great time.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Ron R it’s a good event even worth the effort to travel from the other coast. Cheers! 🍷

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

Medium ruby garnet , quite wide light garnet rim. Quite round sweet red cherry , spiced strawberry , blackberry , quite fruit driven still . With some tobacco and earthy hints . On the palate this is more red fruited , quite spiced cherry and strawberry with iodine hints and seaside notes . Good fresh acidity and quite rounded ripe tannins . Not particularly dense or intense on the palate , but well balanced and elegant with a reasonable , iron filling tinged finish . This is showing well now , and will continue to do so over the next 5-8 years. From magnum — 18 days ago

Ira, Anthony and 11 others liked this
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

I have this one in mgm too. Do you see it improving over the next 5-8 years or lasting for 5-8 years? Thx
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore

@Anthony De Blasi I don’t see it improving much , it’s already delicious and the tannins are pretty much resolved , it already shows some development but still has enough fruit, there is no rush to enjoy it however . So my 5-8 years is estimating its prime drinking window … and as usual I would prefer to underestimate than overestimate…. Though these wines tend to age at their own pace 😅… enjoy your magnums !
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Thank you for your feedback Andrew!

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

Tipicity! You know it’s Bordeaux, and great, the moment you smell it. Yet this dark fruit, pencil lead one took me to the wrong bank. It felt fresh, and less dark. Blackberries and plums, for sure. A great wine. So young… — 18 days ago

Ira liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2024

Wow. What a deep and complex story here. Very serious and austere, as usual. But this guy is gonna reveal so much interesting aroma with some evolution. — 6 days ago

Paul and Peter liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — 16 days ago

Jeroen, Jan and 11 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Silky silky smooth...so well made. Still young but very enjoyable. Has a long future ahead — a month ago

Bob, Ted and 10 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

Wow. You are on a roll!
Andrew McIntyre

Andrew McIntyre

@Jan de Weerd was a good night! Sore heads the next day though 😵‍💫

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Magnum of 168. Absolutely love Krug and it has become my favourite Champagne. Fresh yet complex...so much to enjoy! — a month ago

Bob, Ted and 8 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91.3%) and Merlot (8.7%). A bit tight and unexpressive right out of the bottle. After a 45 minute decant, this wine was awake and very alive. Dark ruby color. Aromas of graphite, forest floor, wet gravel and dark black fruit. Flavors of black currant/cherry/berry/plum, tobacco, baking spices, dark chocolate and minerals. Distinct notes of smoky oak and wet earth on the long and lingering finish. Tannins were a bit lighter than expected at first but developed with aeration. Quite savory, rich, full bodied and powerful. Beautiful texture. Exceptional (once it opened up) but not the bottle of near perfection that I had heard so much about. Thanks for sharing, Petey and Happy Birthday, Kase! — 10 days ago

Austin, DAD and 9 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Quite a lot of cassis, herbal grafite notes , touch of blackberry , scorched earth , a bit for floral after a while in the glass. On the palate this shows more sweet dark fruit, touch of spicy oak, blackcurrant , dark cherry and cacau . Balanced acidity and sweet slightly grippy tannins , just balanced alcohol . Spicy sweet blackcurrant, grafite tinged finish , decent length. This is still young and quite fruit driven but is enjoyable now with food . Better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 8-10. — 18 days ago

Somm, Rob and 11 others liked this
Somm David T

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This is not a knock on anyone or this producer. For 10 years a friend of mine was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus. He is now back in Bordeaux, rebuilt & raised the quality of Clerc Milon. Now is in charge of all Rothschild properties. This is just me thinking out loud. I have been to this property many times and bought a glass of their Cabernet to take to their top deck and take in a spectacular view of the Napa Valley. Enjoyed many of their vintages in those very nice moments. However, knowing the quality of 2012 vintage and their price point, I and I think most expect & want more than a 92 point wine. Which begs the question, how long can they push bottle price with this level of quality? At what point does the quality price ratio kick in? To a bigger picture, how sustainable is the high quality respected producer wine economic model going forward? To me, a fascinating question going forward.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore

Yes @Somm David T , this was actually served blind , the only wine at lunch ..and we had plenty of time to get to know it before the big reveal . I was trying to evaluate the quality in the glass without the distraction of the label, which is always an illuminating experience . It’s a good wine, and went very will with our steaks but it certainly doesn’t represent good value nor is it a stellar example of 2012 . I would be perfectly happy to have it again mind you , as long as I wasn’t paying .

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1983

Lyle Fass
9.8

Really just stunning. So nimble, so tight, so compact, so elegant. Brilliant! Didn’t taste the 89 sadly. — 2 months ago

Rob, John and 15 others liked this