Back Door

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

Opened the evening prior at 7pm and double-decanted; the bottle was left at room temp with the cork pressed lightly back into the neck until service. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly water rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some real power with a compelling combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: dark brambles, cassis, leather, dill, olives, spiced meat, tobacco and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and whoa is it ever delicious. This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. Drink now through 2040. — 2 days ago

Hermes, Ira and 13 others liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Excellent blend. Bold, complex body and smooth finish. Great for the price point. Enjoying with ocean in the back at One Ocean Resort and Spa. — 8 months ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

2006 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 minutes and 2 hrs. Unexpected amount of frontal palate richness mitigating back-end tannins. Still has years to go. 10.18.23. — 8 months ago

Eric, Daniel and 17 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Delectable Wine
9.3

The 2003 Ducru-Beaucaillou, picked 15-25 September and matured in 90% new oak, has a ripe and opulent bouquet with lavish black fruit, fresh fig, dates and a touch of liquorice, though here is no sense of over-maturity here. It is fresher than a lot of ‘03s that I have recently tasted. The palate is well balanced with supple, rounded tannins. There is a real candied essence to this Ducru-Beaucaillou, with quite a pronounced liquorice finish that you want to go back to. This is ageing well - one of the better wines of this infamous growing season. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2022)
— 2 years ago

Ferrari-Carano

Prevail Back Forty Rock Rise Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

100% Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. Very complex. Dark ruby color with a garnet rim. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, black currant, baking spices and dark chocolate. Nice hint of toasted oak on the long and lingering finish. Totally New World in style. Smooth tannins and excellent mouthfeel. Full bodied and juicy. Tannins have relaxed with bottle age. Quite expressive. High quality. — 6 months ago

Bob, Tom and 2 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1966

1966 vintage. Last tasted 9.20.23. That bottle was a little "chunkier." This one was more refined. Decanted and tasted nearly immediately and throughout a 2 hour window. Throwing the expected kitchen sink's worth of sed. Color initially seemed lighter, like 30+ year old red Burg but ended up being a tad darker than that. Light-medium body. Earth, summer dirt and Valrhona chocolate in the nose. All this plus dried cherries in the frontal palate finish. Not much to speak of on the back end. Rated that 9.20.23 bottle an 8.8 and this is slightly better. Still...a definite rush to crush this. 11.11.23. — 7 months ago

Paul, Ted and 10 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Great year!!!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

2003 vintage. For my ca$hi$h, still, consistently, the sexiest, most voluptuous red Bordeaux out there. Medium-heavy body. This kicked in the door to “the zone” recently without knocking and is set up for the next 10-12 years easily. Such a fantastic balancing act of fruit and structure. Total and blissful synergy. . 9.25.23. — 9 months ago

Andrew, Bob and 20 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

2005 Wine Spectator wine of the year.

1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A thrilling dark garnet with some bricking. Nose: beautiful aromatic notes with cherry, old leather, wet earth, floral, licorice. Taste: velvety smooth, creamy, balanced wine with dark berries, cedar, licorice, spice, espresso, dark chocolate, and a nice satin long finish. YUM! Just gonna sit back and enjoy the ride tonight. Paired with a Christmas prime rib roast dinner. Cheers!
— 6 months ago

Steve, Brenda and 25 others liked this
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Willem Booij Yes, it was delicious. Cheers!
Jay Eagan

Jay Eagan Influencer Badge

🍷 so glad it’s it is still drinking well
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Jay Eagan Yep, its not opulent, just a well made Cali cabernet that still has time to go. Cheers!

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Still super young but fantastic. Cassie, dark cherry, blackberry with a tea back — a year ago

Marilea Campomizzi
with Marilea

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

The sleeper vintage. Simply just ready to go, holding nothing back as it wafts from the glass and the decanter with layers of cassis, cedar, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture, as Margaux should be, and indeed its greatest attribute on this occasion. Liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins, it’s sensual and elegant, caressing the palate with each sip, leading to its black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Excellent showing tonight, and for my tastes drinking at its apogee. — a year ago

Paul, Severn and 6 others liked this