Buyer's Find

Château d'Esclans

Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé Blend

Minerality, crispness, mostly dry…a profile I love. I was pleasantly surprised by this find at Fred Meyer!
— 5 days ago

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2016

Shay A
9.4

94-95

My first Gonon StJo…unfortunately, I loved it. Wish these were easier to find at good prices!

At 8yrs, this was so perfumed out of the glass. At 90% whole cluster, it shows typical green/stemmy aromatics but it’s not the dominant note, trending toward green peppercorns, violets/potpurri, olive, and black cherries. Mineral notes, pepper, mix of red and black fruits, mocha, and so much verve on the palate, absolutely buzzing both days. This wine is floral and herbal but with so much power and balanced fruit…kind of a wild-ness to it that I loved. What a beautiful expression of Syrah. Killer.

Day two showed the whole cluster aromatics fade a bit, but it also showed the palate bulk up. So good.
— 4 months ago

David, Jan and 31 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@John Howard : Yes, I buy from all of those regions but the profile of this Gonon was so unique with its ripe fruit alongside the high percentage of whole clusters. Some of the Pax Sonoma Hillsides have shown a similar profile but have been inconsistent.
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Shay A oh yeah ok. Got this if you can find it: https://delectable.com/capture/5bb7cefc0225688106000cc5
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Shay A this too: https://delectable.com/capture/5b919f42747489a6f200126a

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1998

David T
9.4

1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.

This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.

Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute.
— 7 months ago

Shay, Paul and 18 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2006 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black and red currants, black and red, bramble fruit, tobacco, leather, cocoa, earth, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Despite the character and quality, I didn’t find this to be a powerhouse rather, this was quietly confident. The finish is long, lovely…very demure. Looking great at 18 years young and there’s a lot of life left. If this is any indication of longevity, the 2006 “Terrace Select” might live forever. Drink now with a decant for air and sediment and enjoy through 2036 easy. — 17 days ago

Ming, Douglas and 12 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

I still liked the 06, but it was my least favorite vintage. I’ve had from them now from 2006-13. Had I posted it, I would have given it a 93 as well.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Oh! the rusticity of Rafanelli Cabbage...

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Columbia Valley Riesling 2022

This wine has barely any color at all, just a very faint yellow-green tint. The nose is nice. There is a slight trace of petrol, which I always love to find in a Riesling. More dominant is a lanolin note which joins a light floral aroma. The palate straddles the fence between dry and sweet, offering up some tasty stone fruit and a savory side marked by gentle spices and a workable acidity. I would like a drier wine better, but I drank this quaff gladly and poured another. — 7 months ago

Paul, Tom and 1 other liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2000

This was the best LT tonight for me & groups favorite, need to find more — 8 months ago

Juan, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Jones Family Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

David T
9.5

Birthed the year we were married and one of the more stunning producers we learned to embraced.

Love you endlessly Sofia! ❤️

Just picked when we were married & likely still in tank.

I can’t tell you enough how much you need to find a well aged & stored bottle.
— a month ago

Paul, Tom and 10 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

I wanted to ask you what year you were married, but I don’t think I ever did. Great pictures & memories.
I actually have 2 mags of the 07 Jones. I’ll save for the day we finally get together and grieve & commemorate the loss of our wives.

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Takes the reins as best ever Dunn Cabernet for me…needed 45 mins out of Magnum, nose all Bordeaux of cedar and cigar box with a touch of cassis. Velvety palate, layers of red cherry and chocolate espresso bean, long, long finish. Find and drink now if you can. — 5 months ago

Jeroen, Ira and 26 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Best ever - nice to hear

R. López de Heredia

Viña Cubillo Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2014

Un tempranillo mezcla de rioja. este es mi tercero tempranillo desde rioja. espero sentirme un caballero. first scent was coke (cola) on the cork. hue is extremely dark. No clarity much turbidity in broad daylight. slight note of sweet cherry. much barrel and deep tannic tones of turbulence i find terrific. sour cherry on the tongue. Really dazzling deep wine brings the whole picnic and woodsy fairytale all together #tempranilloblend — 7 months ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2000

Beautiful wine. So earthy, leathery, and powerful. This wine still has years of life left. A nearly perfect Cabernet Sauvignon blend with a Mediterranean twist. It tastes like an extremely high-end Chateauneuf-du-Pape dominated by a high-end Napa Cabernet. Perfect with my Greek lamb chops. I wish I could have left it open longer but I consumed it at my favorite BYOB Greek restaurant. If you find this wine at a reasonable price, buy it. At $90 a steal. — 9 months ago