Cellar Notes

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

No notes taken. A good 2nd Growth from St Estephe. Savoury palate finishing dry. — 9 days ago

Jan, Andrew and 24 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Fantastic Napa cab that’s in a beautiful spot right now. Well balanced. Notes of Blackberry, Cassis, Pencil Shavings, Mint, and that ever present Rutherford Dust. — 5 days ago

Ted Miller
with Ted

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Silky and refined. Subtle notes of lead pencil and soft chalky red fruit. Very complete and subtle and delicious. Harmonious — 24 days ago

David Schachter
with David
Jay, Shay and 14 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

I had this a week ago but didn’t take any notes at all at a friends tasting last Sunday afternoon. Have always been a huge fan of Dominus and this was from an exceptional vintage. I recall an excellent left bank Cabernet dominant style but presented as a Napa style - rich and plush but not overly so. Thoroughly enjoyable. — a month ago

Jan, Tom and 27 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

David T
9.5

Nearly 20 years in bottle. It is still ascending will drink well for another 15 days plus years.

From a warm vintage. Beautiful, even toned fruits with elegant earth & amazing lead pencil bloom for days.

This is approaching its peak, another 5 years from its peak.

Well resolved wine-fruits. The fruits are juicy, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark cherries & slightly, poached strawberries with a highlight of pomegranate. Mocha, dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, sandstone, limestone, some mushroom notes, dark, rich turned earth w/ dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry herbs, dry stone, caramel notes, dry, withering, dark, purple & red flowers with excellent acidity, balance, tension, structure and finish for days that lasts 90 seconds.
— a day ago

Vanessa, Daniel and 15 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2007

Bit mixed on this wine and to be honest super Tuscans in general. This Tig has some serious secondary shoe leather notes at this point. Still has some quite nice fruit and just barely enough acid, but overall was hoping for a bit more verve. — 13 days ago

Jason, Severn and 2 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. The 1988 shows great color and is quite charming with notes of cassis, tobacco, leather some bell pepper and a cinnamon bark sort of thing on the nose. Structure remains firm and this was a little greener than the ‘89 and ‘90. There is no risk of this falling off anytime soon; probably good through 2038. — 23 days ago

Ira, David and 10 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay 1996

Medium lemon colour . Lovely lemon, buttered pastry nose , still so fresh and lively . Mineral with a honeysuckle note , touch of blanched almond . On the palate quite rich and complex , with high acidity and mineral , honied , brioche notes , still quite fresh though with lots of creamy lemon hints. Long mineral tinged finish . Lovely now and over the next 5-10 years . — 8 days ago

Tom, Bob and 12 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 15 days ago

Bob, Tom and 15 others liked this

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2013

Again I had this at a friends tasting last Sunday afternoon. No notes taken but I recall more honeyed and mature than Chablis oyster shell characteristics. I should add that Penfolds 1990 707 in the image to the right was exceptional. Drinking at its peak from a good vintage with still some years to go. 97 points for the 707. — a month ago

Jan, Tom and 23 others liked this