Juicy dark beery fruit, healthy spice, balanced. — 2 months ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Light yellow in color.
Strong nose of apples, yeast, spices, bread, minerals and sea salt.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity, and medium plus sized bubbles.
Dry on the palate with citrus, apples, pears, light earth, yeast, vegetables, spices and bitter herbs.
Nice finish with limes and almonds.
This 13 year old Vintage Champagne feels young and needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly.
Rich and extracted with lots of bread notes. Elegant and robust.
Showing nice complexity, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Paired beautifully with fresh oysters.
A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged in 2020.
12% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120. — 21 days ago
Have It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim.
Nose of red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, tobacco leaf, herbs, cola, Mediterranean spices, light vegetables, earth, dark chocolates and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, cedar, licorice, toast, light vanilla, chocolates, tobacco, diet cola, herbs, coffee, vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 4-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking very fresh and young. Fruit forward with lots of earth notes to compliment it.
Rich, elegant and not in your face kind of Napa Cabernet. Spicy and tangy. Complex and interesting.
Showing a really nice nose, once it opened up, with lots of earth notes. Reminds me of a Left Bank Bordeaux. Delicious.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter.
Needs more bottle time, and will continue to age nicely in the next 25 years. A good quality wine with good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
I had a few vintages of this wine, and it truly shines at 20 years of age.
A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. Paired really well with my Stilton Blue Cheese.
A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Merlot. Aged in (65% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$65. — a month ago
Shay A

One of the bottles I brought for a guys night of rosé sparklers and Brunello.
I’ve been on the Ultramarine list for close to 10yrs. I’ve opened bottles young, old and everywhere in-between (both based on vintage and in relation to disgorgement), and after such a disappointing experience with the 2020s (after reading all the CT notes, I opened a ‘20 of each cuveé and found a profile that is not reminiscent of the early Ultramarine days at all), I wanted to open something that reminded me of the good ‘ol days with Ultramarine.
Amongst Egly’s rosé, Krug’s rosé, Westborn’s rosé and tons of grower champagnes, this wasn’t a standout but it was enjoyable and paired beautifully with the food. This bottle was closer in experience to the 2014 (good richness, fruit, but also big structure) vs the 2016 (lighter/brighter, more mineral). Salmon color in the glass with a dash of pink. Not overly reductive or oxidative with waves of red berry fruit and strawberry marscapone. Lovely richness on the palate with some strawberry shortbread cookies amongst more red berry fruit but a nice mineral streak down the middle. Layered. Mousse isn’t quite creamy but it’s soft. Nod to grower champagne with Cali warmth.
This is in a nice integrated spot where the fruit is taking a step back and dancing with the mineral notes. No rush to open, but worth popping soon. — 14 days ago