Bande Apart

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1983

it’s interesting because this bottle was not properly kept for several years, the cork fell apart upon opening, but this 1983 vintage ,was still delightfully good ! in spite of the improperly kept history, as a Sauturne. It has a nice delightful, sweet and aromatic taste that was quite pleasant to drink. It was open today, March 22, 2026. — a month ago

Dave, Joel and 9 others liked this

Pago de los Capellanes

Joven Roble Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2027

This 2021 is the freshest Pago I can remember. Expressive nose, with red tones, apart from the plums and blueberries. Good acidity and length. Pleasant. — 3 years ago

Bernard Faurie

Hermitage Syrah 1987

Tannins that we’re falling apart, smoky/meaty, high acidity — 5 years ago

Cantillon Brewery

Fou' Foune Lambic 2020

I may have given other sour beers a 10, but this takes the cake. Insanely well balanced. What sets this apart is the underlying creaminess with tannin. I wonder if it’s from apricot pits. Huge apricot flavor and sour complexity. Perfect bubbles coat your entire palate. I was not expecting to buy into the hype of this so hard. Would love to do an apricot sour tasting to see what others (SARA, Rare Bareel) are like next to this. — 5 years ago

Terrabianca

Campaccio Toscana Super Tuscan Blend

Held up well over the last 28 years! Took a gamble on some birthday wine and it payed off well. Prominent bricking and the cork obviously fell apart, but the wine maintained the rustic, leathery notes of age, with hints of black tea, overripe plum, and some lingering acidic energy, like a ripe strawberry with some dark chocolate. Medium bodied, with some leathery, smoky ash over the dark cherry like fruit, there’s notes of cranberry and strawberry compote still alive in here. The finish lingers for a while, fresh, but not acidic with tannins that only really started to show after a few hours of opening. Grippy, but well integrated. If the measure of a great wine is in its ability to last, this wine has earned the title despite poor storage conditions and lack of faith from its sellers. — 7 months ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Graceful yet powerful…black and blueberry, menthol, vanilla spice, lead pencil, slight jalapeño, mocha, brick color, acid diminished, tannins super smooth and finishes like cali cab…fruit forward and lush…cork fell apart but wine fortunately did not… — 4 years ago

Jay, Paul and 3 others liked this

Seven Apart

Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Alder Yarrow
9.3

One of the most ambitious new entrants to the Napa luxury wine scene sits high up on Atlas Peak. In true “modern Napa” form, Seven Apart @sevenapart is a spare-no-expense project that is the work of financier Don Dady and NFL star Jason Kyle. Andy Erickson of @faviawines is their inaugural winemaker. Deep black cherry and cassis and tobacco morph into licorice and dried flowers and dried herbs on the journey across the palate. Sumptuous and polished, but with excellent acidity and an admirably restrained 14.1% alcohol. The bottle, as you’d expect from such a venture, is offensively heavy, but the wine is good. This is the remains of a press sample. — 5 years ago

Shay, Eric and 9 others liked this

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Somm David T
9.3

This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.

This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.

Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.

@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit.
— 2 years ago

Daniel, Ira and 14 others liked this

Faunus

Sirah Nero d'Avola Blend

Had this for $23? At Al Giardino in Taormina Sicily. A bargain and a different blend. We thought it was great for the price/value consideration. Dark berries and plum. A bit of leather with the tannins just fine. You can pick apart the two grapes in the blend. — 4 years ago

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Rosé Blend 2019

Mary H
9.3

Red berries, salt, wet rocks. Light bright pink for a FUN AND #FLOUNCY start to summer! Mouthwatering citrus acidity with a hint of salinity, and a medium long finish to boot. This went so quickly but would have also been great with seafood or light summer fare. Much more elegant and no bitterness in the finish which sets it apart from other rosés. — 5 years ago

Louis
with Louis
Eric, Ira and 10 others liked this