Block No. 45

L'Ecole No. 41

Frenchtown Red Blend 2015

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, tobacco, cedar, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, light herbs and light alcohol.

Full bodied and soft, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, currants, blueberries, light oak, licorice, vanilla, spices, espresso, light earth, herbs and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and sweet spices.

This 5 year old red blend from Washington State is drinking at its peak right now.

Elegant and easy drinking right out of the bottle. Gets better after 30 minutes of airtime, when more complexity and tannins come in to play.

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and spicy, with a really nice nose, once it opens up.

Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

Showing nice complexity and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 45% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec, 17% Syrah and 4% Grenache. Aged for 9 months in neutral oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20.
— 2 months ago

Sharon, Daniel and 10 others liked this

Epoch Estate Wines

Block B Paso Robles Syrah 2018

2018 vintage. 100% syrah. Willow Creek District. Paderewski Vineyard. Heavy body. Multi-faceted nose. Price has crept up substantially so it is no longer a QPR/bang for the buck darling but is still rocking at full volume. Sometimes, you gotta drop the coin for the concert. 5.29.24. — 5 months ago

Jan, Ed and 10 others liked this
Shay A

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These can be monsters young, but I’m a fan.

Realm Cellars

Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Shay A
9.5

I brought this to a big 2012 retrospective tasting of Napa Cabernet but wasn’t able to stop by my offsite in time to get a ‘12.

Cork came out terribly. Double decanted 30-45 mins. 100% Cabernet. Sporting a deep purple color even at 15yrs. Just shy of explosive aromatics…ripe red and black fruits, mocha, cocoa powder. Sheer To-Kalon power on the palate with the velvet glove approach…layered dark fruits, black currant, cassis, charcoal and graphite. Mid-palate here has great depth and the finish is beautiful. This has evolved wonderfully. Pop now but no rush.
— a year ago

Joseph, Jason and 29 others liked this

Optik Wines

Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah Block No. 49A 2021

Fantastic! Northern rhone meets California. Reminds me of pax syrahs. Olives, meat, dark cherries in a forest, some cocoa, lead, plums. Very complex. Probably better with some age. — 4 months ago

Tom liked this

Château Simone

Palette Grand Cru de Provence Grenache Rosé Blend 2021

2021 | Red Blend
(45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc)
Chateau Simone; Rosé
Provence; Aix-en-Provence, Palette, France
(92-94; Drink 2026-36)

Bottle No. 03912
— 6 months ago

Daniel, Bob and 25 others liked this
Jay Kline

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🙌🏽

Equipo Navazos

La Bota de Fino No. 45 Palomino Fino 2013

Wow. Some beef consommé, walnut and floral/ nectar. Insane finish. — 5 months ago

Brian, Aravind and 13 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

1986 vintage, Above average fill. Excellent cork with bottom quarter fully saturated. Decanted with respectable sed. Dark cherry skins color. Tasted after 15 mins. Light-medium body. Nose the usual aged/faintly cigar box intro. Flavors melded together nicely but ever so slightly tart. Delicate, long finish. Thinking the tartness would buff out after 45 minutes open but no chance to prove that theorem. 6.1.24. — 5 months ago

Ted, Jan and 23 others liked this

Podere Il Carnasciale

Carnasciale Toscana IGT Cabernet Franc 2016

Delicious! So so good. Decanted for 45 min. Developing very well. Black cherry aromas. BlackBerry, and plum with touches of earthy and mint on the palate. No rush to drink and still developing and improving! — 4 years ago

David, Josh and 3 others liked this