Cabernet Shiraz Blend

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2002

See several previous Delectable notes for this Cuvée. I have 2 bottles left after this one. Penfolds have a whopping drink window up to 2045. The colour is a pale mid crimson with a tawny rim. Mocha, dark chocolate and blackberry notes on the nose. From a low yielding cool vintage which is made for long cellaring. Absolutely superb at the moment. Great palate intensity (mulberry, black berry and dark chocolate) with mellow resolved tannins and a very long persistent finish. No wonder Penfolds tasting book is called The Rewards of Patience. — 2 days ago

Somm, Daniel and 25 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, as an “older dude” myself, don’t you just hate when the ideal drinking date for wines is 20+ years AFTER your likely expiration date?? Grrr
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers I agree Doug but still can’t resist some purchases. The latest vintage of Penfolds Grange, the stellar 2021 was released a few weeks ago and I couldn’t help myself and had to buy a bottle. One of the greatest vintages ever in South Australia this wine will be providing great pleasure to those lucky enough to have some long after I have gone to the huge cellar in the sky!!

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Delicious per usual. Last had 2 years ago and this is in a nice place. Perfect with skirt steak off the grill. A treat. — 10 days ago

Dave, Ira and 4 others liked this
Dave

Dave

A treat, indeed!

Château Musar

Hochar Père & Fils Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2005

Medium garnet with a medium wide garnet rim . Quite thick tears . A little high toned with an earthy tobacco , old wood , sous bois , spiced cherry , ripe blackberry note . On the palate this is quite rounded and juicy with sweet tannins spiced red plum , dark cherry and cassis . Ok balanced acidity , slightly warming alcohol . Medium spiced red plum and cherry finish . With more time in the glass this starts to become a little disjointed, I would recommend drinking this at a more or less cellar temperature, which wasn’t the case here . Ready now , still on its plateau of maturity but best from now and over the next 5 or so years . — 19 days ago

Andrew, Daniel and 13 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Previously tasted 3x in the last 4+ years 01.20.23 (9.6), 05.16.21 (9.4) and 09.21.23 (9.5) Top shoulder fill. Excellent cork. Decanted and tasted immediately. Oodles of sediment as expected. Beguiling St. Estèphe nose. This. Was. Phenomenal. Best of the four horsemen/tastings. Enough structure to build the infrastructure for a new city along with a surprising amount of dark fruit. A well-stored, large format bottle of this might just show you the best time you’ve ever had. WoW. 08.14.25. — 5 days ago

Daniel, Ted and 22 others liked this
Jan A

Jan A

Nice!
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

Its indeed wow. Have you tried the 1989 ? Slightly less dramatic and more classical in style but can be as big an epiphany…

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Isosceles Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Justin’s finest, this vintage is 70 percent Cab, 11 percent Cab Franc, 10 percent Merlot. Black cherry. Smooth from the Merlot and age. August 2025. — 14 days ago

Dave, Tom and 6 others liked this

Château Chasse-Spleen

Moulis en Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

We had it on a diner with friends. Food was a bit of a disappointment considering the reputation (and the price tag) but the bottle was frankly excellent. Tell tale claret which is delivering the goods now but no rush. — a month ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Dave and 5 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

Full bodied and with a great taste of oak. So rich in flavor. — 11 days ago

Mike Tomasello
with Mike

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

Somm David T
9.4

Every time I have an older BV Tapestry, 15-25 yrs, I am always impressed with their better vintages. 2007 the rule rather than the exception. This when released in 2009-10 was between $35-$40 depending on when & where you purchased it. Having stated the above, these have proven to better than some to many Napa Cabernets costing $125 to $175 with the right long age. Bought in the last six months on the secondary market for $55 if my memory hasn’t failed me.

Tonight from a corvined bottle over the weekend still shows youthfulness but has excellent integration & evolution. Still has 12-15 years of good drinking ahead.

Ripe & lush, touch candied, dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries, black plum, baked strawberries & haunting blueberries/raspberries. Sweet tarriness, dry twig, powdery limestone, anise to some black licorice, soft, wet herbs, baking soda, dry top soil, nutmeg, soft clove, cinnamon, vanillin, dark spices, withering & candied flowers that are dark, red, blue framed in lavender & liquid violets.

The palate shows lush, ripe with M+ velvety rounded tannins. Lush dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries, black plum, baked strawberries & haunting blueberries/raspberries. Sweet tarriness, dry leather, used tobacco with ash, lead pencil shavings, dry twig, powdery limestone, anise to some black licorice, moist & dry herbs, baking soda, dry top soil, nutmeg, soft clove, cinnamon stick, vanillin, dark spices, withering & candied flowers that are dark, red, blue framed in lavender & liquid violets, pretty acidity and a finish that is; well balanced/structured/knitted, elegantly polished that last two-minutes and lands evenly on fruits, soft earth notes & deep spices as it sets.
— 6 days ago

Jay, leon and 15 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 2 days ago

Andrew, Juan and 4 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore Red Bordeaux Blend 2021

2021 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 45 mins. Chunky and decently power-laden. Hints of finesse here and there. Much too much too early obvs but time, space and the FLB (Friday Lunch Boys) demanded a sacrificial lamb. The oracle at Delphi was on a lunch break apparently so no tea leaves or entrails read but this needs at least 3-4 years to divine the future. 08.15.25. — 4 days ago

Bob, Ruud and 13 others liked this