Black Kite Cellars

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2020

At Bottega Restaurant in Napa. Trying this 2020 Super Tuscan. Nose is aromatic with black cherry, tobacco, espresso, and pepper spice. Taste is robust with black cherry herbs, cedar and tannic. Needs more time. — a month ago

Jill YoungLeslie PiersonKarin Blazona
with Jill, Leslie and 1 other
Tom, Shay and 14 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Dark dark ruby. Tannins holding strong, a bit tight at the open, but loosens up to a wonderful silky mouthfeel. Black fruit in balance with minerality. Lovely wine but tonight I preferred the Pape Clement. — a month ago

Joe, Ira and 5 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Shay A
9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty.
— a month ago

Pinotman, Tom and 18 others liked this

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.
— 5 days ago

Thijs, Andrew and 18 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

After 20 years, it still took extensive decanting to soften the initially gripping tannins. Once it did, beautiful dark fruits came through. Black currants, stewed prunes, delicious and full on the palate. Outstanding. Paired well with Brie and beef chow fun!!  — 18 days ago

Thomas liked this

Tapiz

Black Tears Mendoza Malbec 2018

Deep inky color. Bouquet of dry dusty mild cherries. Initial taste of mild dry not quite sweet cherries. In the middle, a quick evaporation of dark fruit. Finishes with a dry dusty dark cherry tannins. — 2 months ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1964

Paul J
9.0

Short decant. Amazed at the quality after seeing an almost black cork and a very low fill level. Wouldn’t be craving a glass, but for a wine this old it was consumable with a few in the party really enjoying it. Garnet, almost brown in color. Leather and stewed fruit dominate. — 7 days ago

Steve GautierBrooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Steve and Brooke
Jan, John and 4 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Age is this bad boys friend. Rich black fruit on the nose. Smooth and buttery tannins. Blackberry is dominant Macerated black olive on the mid palate with eucalyptus on the longer finish.  — a month ago

Shay, Bob and 9 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days and showed very well throughout. The 2012 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some browning towards the rim; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with secondary characteristics just starting to show themselves. Also, the solar nature of 2012 is showing through with loads of truffles and overripe and desiccated red and black fruits: tartufo bianco d’Alba, dried cherry, bruised raspberries, red roses, leather, Fig Newtons, dried herbs, and some dusty and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, drying and savory. I’ve been a vocal fan of the 2012 vintage of Produttori since release and this might be the best showing yet. This is my last 750mL. My remaining bottles are magnums and I’ll look forward to enjoying those over the next 10-15 years. No rush, but this is a fun time to drink these as the truffle character is starting to peak through. — 24 days ago

Juan, Vanessa and 14 others liked this