Dark Earth Cellars

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

2005 vintage. From magnum. Tasted after 3 hours open. Light-medium body. Drought earth. Coffee grounds. Espresso crema. Dark plum skins. Drinking excellent but like a Napa cab a decade older. And from a magnum!?!? Was expecting a bit more of a delicate fruit presence. Oh well. It was a full moon. 04.11.25. — 7 days ago

Ted, Austin and 8 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark medium garnet with little bricking. On the nose: expressive perfumed nose with dark plum/cherry, currants,milk chocolate, baking spice, floral, wet forest floor, touch of roasted meat. Taste: silky, balanced, elegant wine that is singing at 20 years with dried red fruit, earth, chocolate, cedar, minerals, saline, and a spiced-tobacco-green bell pepper long finish. YUM! — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Paul and 13 others liked this
Deborah M

Deborah M

Nice!

Michael David Winery

Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon

Laughing when I say this… the first glass tastes just as wonderful as the last glass. Often when we do tastings the last glass tastes good but later we wonder why in the world we liked it so much. This one is enjoyable from the very first sip. Regardless of the crazy label and name, it’s a great selection to enjoy with dinner and a partner. — a month ago

Tracy Bowen
with Tracy

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — 13 days ago

Jeroen, Jan and 11 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91.3%) and Merlot (8.7%). A bit tight and unexpressive right out of the bottle. After a 45 minute decant, this wine was awake and very alive. Dark ruby color. Aromas of graphite, forest floor, wet gravel and dark black fruit. Flavors of black currant/cherry/berry/plum, tobacco, baking spices, dark chocolate and minerals. Distinct notes of smoky oak and wet earth on the long and lingering finish. Tannins were a bit lighter than expected at first but developed with aeration. Quite savory, rich, full bodied and powerful. Beautiful texture. Exceptional (once it opened up) but not the bottle of near perfection that I had heard so much about. Thanks for sharing, Petey and Happy Birthday, Kase! — 6 days ago

Austin, DAD and 8 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

This had red & black fruits, earth, cedar, leather, sweet, savory spice with tobacco — 14 days ago

Jan, Jeroen and 10 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (24%), Petite Verdot (3%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). Dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of plush black fruit, violets, graphite, leather, cedar and wet gravel. Jammy raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors with additional notes of plums, black currants, mocha, coffee, tobacco and baking spices. Beautiful hints of smoke and dusty earth on the long and precise finish. Rich and concentrated with great intensity. Medium-plus body and some noticeable tannins. Still a bit tight, but heading to a very good place. Thank you so much for the wonderful gift, Kasey and Pete! — a month ago

Paul, Jamie and 9 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

This was drinking beautifully with its dark fruits, cassis, plum, cedar, menthol, spice & tobacco — a month ago

Neil, David and 14 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Quite a lot of cassis, herbal grafite notes , touch of blackberry , scorched earth , a bit for floral after a while in the glass. On the palate this shows more sweet dark fruit, touch of spicy oak, blackcurrant , dark cherry and cacau . Balanced acidity and sweet slightly grippy tannins , just balanced alcohol . Spicy sweet blackcurrant, grafite tinged finish , decent length. This is still young and quite fruit driven but is enjoyable now with food . Better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 8-10. — 14 days ago

Somm, Rob and 11 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

This is not a knock on anyone or this producer. For 10 years a friend of mine was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus. He is now back in Bordeaux, rebuilt & raised the quality of Clerc Milon. Now is in charge of all Rothschild properties. This is just me thinking out loud. I have been to this property many times and bought a glass of their Cabernet to take to their top deck and take in a spectacular view of the Napa Valley. Enjoyed many of their vintages in those very nice moments. However, knowing the quality of 2012 vintage and their price point, I and I think most expect & want more than a 92 point wine. Which begs the question, how long can they push bottle price with this level of quality? At what point does the quality price ratio kick in? To a bigger picture, how sustainable is the high quality respected producer wine economic model going forward? To me, a fascinating question going forward.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Yes @Somm David T , this was actually served blind , the only wine at lunch ..and we had plenty of time to get to know it before the big reveal . I was trying to evaluate the quality in the glass without the distraction of the label, which is always an illuminating experience . It’s a good wine, and went very will with our steaks but it certainly doesn’t represent good value nor is it a stellar example of 2012 . I would be perfectly happy to have it again mind you , as long as I wasn’t paying .

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Steve and 20 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Love this JP vintage!