Black Tower

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Bought at the winery after tasting in 1999, my first pilgrimage to Coonawarra. Opened very stinky but blew off with air over 30 mins to beautiful fragrant nose and that sweet soft tannin of an aged Coonawarra Cabernet. Drank gloriously over the next two hours. Still full of life at 29 years old. — 21 days ago

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2022

Referred to as the “Baby Grange,” blend of 51/49 Cab Sauv & Shiraz, aged for 12 months in 36% new American oak, partly in previous-vintage Grange casks. Dark Ruby with aromas of fresh black fruits, complex with sweet spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry flavors with notes of cacao, oak and toasty spices. Well balanced with acidity, full firm tannins, long ending with smoky spice, fruit well integrated with oak, drink over next 10 years+, will only get better. Nice! — 30 minutes ago

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Floral notes on the nose — roses, hibiscus, plus mint, and the dry fragrance of sun-bleached wood. Strawberries on the front. Medium tannic structure. Black tea high notes with hint mint on the mid palate. Citrusy finish with long acidic afterburn. My description fails in that it makes it sound like a light and floral wine. But taken altogether, this is wine is rock solid, and it hasn’t even begun to develop. — 3 days ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

Black fruits, cedar, earth, leather, graphite & tobacco — 9 days ago

Andrew, Ted and 18 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), Merlot (47%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Dark ruby color with a few purple highlights. Savory aromas of burnt wood, asphalt, black fruit, smoky oak and purple flowers. Flavors of cooked blue and black berries, espresso, mushrooms, cassis and oolong tea. Long and smoky finish. Nicely balanced and extremely concentrated. Smooth tannins but still quite the powerhouse. Heading past its prime but still extremely drinkable. Thank you for sharing this incredible wine, Kasey and Pete. — 17 days ago

Dave, Tom and 5 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

This was drinking beautifully showing rich red & black fruits, earth, cedar, leather, spice & tobacco — a month ago

Tom, Somm and 21 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

This wine is a well-balanced Napa Valley red showing both power and elegance. It offers aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco, with flavors of black cherry, cocoa, and spice on a silky, structured palate. Love it. Q — 2 months ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Youthful, structured with mostly black fruits, cassis, sweet spice, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco — 17 days ago

Andrew, Jan and 16 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Chaillot Cornas Syrah 2012

Shay A
9.5

Opened for a buddy’s birthday, alongside a 2005 Tatty Comtes, 2015 Cristal, 2018 Realm Falstaff and 2023 Kobayashi M/R.

I still remember my first Allemand seven years ago and how it immediately reeled me in and every bottle since has been the exact same. The rusticity and feral nature of Cornas is why for me, as a Syrah fanboy, it’s the best and most pure region for this wonderful grape.

Removed cork about an hour before pouring. Initial notes of olive, black pepper spice and herbs, some smoked meat and a brief blood-orange citrus aromatic. Deep red/black in the glass. There’s a layer of brett (low level, adds to the intrigue, doesn’t detract) and lavender bouquet before peppered strip, herbs, raspberries and blackberries, and a sanguine tang hit the palate. Not sure of whole cluster use here but seems there’s a little bit (which I love). Wild but civilized. Medium-plus bodied with beautiful acidity and plenty of tannin for this to cruise years. On the early side, but these are so hard to resist in every phase.

I wish I could drink this every day. I need to find a wine of similar style at a better price point.
— 6 days ago

David, Paul and 20 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Sounds fantastic!!

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — 18 days ago

Andrew, Douglas and 6 others liked this