Balance Of Power

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. — a day ago

Hermes, Ira and 13 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 2 months ago

Thomas and Ken liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

I am biased for Rioja but this is a very good demonstration of why. Great balance ripe reserved fruit in harmony with some slight puckering length. Better in 10 years. Totally fine now. — 2 months ago

Ed, Shay and 21 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

1982 vintage. Above average fill. Cork 98% saturated. Decanted and throwing a mix of chunky and sandy sed. Tasted after 15 minutes. Dark-fruited nose. Still medium body. Any overt fruit is gonzo and this specimen ended up as more muscular than remembered with notable balance. Tannic skeleton definitely in place. Least favorite 1st growth overall but this was a great showing. In a sweet spot currently and likely to hold here without drop off for another 4-5 years. 6.1.24. — 24 days ago

Ted, "Odedi" and 23 others liked this
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Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1968

Great balance. A brooding dark fruit with a salinity and sour cherry, dark plum, a bit of iodine and iron. Excellent — a month ago

Tony GarciaDavid Schachter
with Tony and David
Aravind, Ira and 12 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Birth year Latour for our 700th wine on Delectable! Very mature but still with lots of life. Leather, graphite and earthy notes and still so much power. A great pleasure to drink! — 2 months ago

Paul, Ted and 6 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

You could smell the beauty of it the second you open the bottle. Takes a minute to open up, naturally but had pretty good staying power. Great structure and balance. — 4 months ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

David T
9.4

Just entering its drinking window. It has 40 years ahead of it. Excellent with Ribcap from Costco.

Interesting that there are some vegetable notes on the nose.

Very good evolution. Medium plus tannins. Juicy, ripe blackberries, black raspberries, darkest cherries, black plum/ with skin, ripe strawberries, some blue fruit hues, cedar, black licorice/cola, dark rich earth w/ leaves, sandstone, steeped sun tea, light limestone powder, ripe, light, dark spice, clove, light cinnamon, hints of nutmeg, vanillin, moist volcanic clay, fresh red, dark flowers, framed in violets, round acidity with polish/balance, softly tensioned, elegant that falls on mineral & clay that lasts two-minutes.
— a month ago

Thijs, Andrew and 19 others liked this

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2013

Not sure there are better 13 whites than Raveneau. Lafon also comes to mind. It’s an early drinking vintage (by Raveneau standards) while you wait for 12 and 14. Also, no Chapelot this year so it’s blended in here. A multi hour advance decant has it rocking, stunningly aromatic, soaring with layers of créme fraîche, baking spice, crushed stones and a whisper of botrytis influenced saffron. The palate shows immense power, concentration and depth of waxy yellow fruit chiseled with Chablisen minerality. Brilliant tension and racy lemony acids provide a seamless balance to its power and richness. MDT always hits 🫰🏻 — 2 months ago

Mark, Paul and 8 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

In Magnum. Excellent balance of fruit and acid. Many years to go. — 2 months ago

Rob, Jay and 1 other liked this