Downhill Cellars

Colgin Cellars

Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

1994 vintage. Nice fill with a slightly shrunken and fully saturated cork. Durand helped plenty in the opening assist. Not decanted and tasted after 1.25 hours open. Hadn’t tasted since the early 2000’s. Definitely dropped all the baby fat. Toffee, coffee and chocolate covered cherries in the nose. Light medium body (thought it would be a touch bigger). Still plenty of focus but slightly less grip than desired. Can it match biggie shizz like Montelena, Dunn, Diamond Creek, BV GDL Reserve, Mondavi Reserve, Araujo, Peter Michael Les Pavots, Mayacamas, etc? No. Is it really really nice? Absolutely. Can hold another 5-6 years at this juncture before boarding the downhill bell curve train. 11.8.24. — 19 days ago

Jan, Daniel and 13 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Great pull

Jones Family Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

This Mag needed 30 minutes to blow off the 20 years, but it started going downhill quickly compared to other 02’s . Retail purchase so who knows storage conditions, — 2 years ago

Paul, Shay and 15 others liked this

Corison

Helios Cabernet Franc 2012

Paul J
9.3

1hr+ decant. Wine really changed through the course of the night. Went from floral to port to tannic. Started out nice then evolved to complex then to strange and then went downhill. I’d drink soon and be careful of decanting too long. I was at 94 and then dropped to 91, so 92.5 and rounding up :) — 3 years ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Hermes, Milissa and 6 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Riserva Muncagota Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019

David T
9.3

From one of my favorite co-ops. I believe they are still the third largest co-op in Europe. Their tasting room sits on the top of the hill in the center of Barbaresco under & to the side of the church with an easy downhill short walk to Gaja.

2019 was a very good vintage in Piedmont.

The nose shows some light smokiness and lightly grilled meats. Dullish fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, raspberries with notes of black raspberries. Sandstone, dark earth and dark withering flowers with red roses.

The palate is ripe, juicy and lush. Quite pleasant for a youthful Barbaresco. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries & blueberry hues. Crushed sandstone & limestone, nice mid spice, dry tobacco, tough leatheriness, barrel shavings, soft presence mix of dry & fresh herbs, dry river stone, red cola, brilliant red florals, red & pink roses, excellent acidity with a nicely tensioned, structured, balanced, elegant finish that lasts minutes landing on wood & dry earth.

Another one to cellar 8-10 plus years.
— 25 days ago

Jay, Ceccherini and 19 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

We had a tasting there some years ago with Aldo Vacca (after climbing the tower) but couldn’t crack a tasting at Gaja just down the road.
David T

David T Influencer Badge

@Bob McDonald Sofia & I visited in the fall of 2015. Now if you want to visit, even professionals, they require each person to make a $200 euro donation to their charity. A good cause but spendy for most.

Terroir al Límit

Dits del Terra Priorat Carignane 2015

Jan A
9.4

Fresh and spicy. Surprisingly this was already on the downhill on day two dispite being full bodied, young and tannic on day one. Almost Pinot Noir type of character. — 4 years ago

Tom, Edo and 12 others liked this

Chateau Suduirat

1er Cru Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2007

This 2007 is at the end of its drinkability, but still delightful. All kinds of stone fruit and herbs with floral notes and honey. It went downhill pretty soon after opening. — 2 years ago

Raul Pérez

Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencía 2016

Fully resolved and probably barely past peak. Downhill from here. Tasty with Indonesian spiced fried chicken and nasi goreng — 2 years ago

Andrew, Josh and 3 others liked this

Château La Tour du Pin

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Nicely made Saint-Emilion (75% Merlot/25% Cab Franc). Didn’t expect the wine to show as well as it did and punches well above its weight. Big and bold, this wine has great weight and depth. Finish is long and savory. Wish I had more than 2 bottles remaining. Probably at peak though doesn’t appear in danger of going downhill anytime soon. — 3 years ago

Tom and Bob liked this

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne

Lieu-Dit Clavin Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend 2016

Good vintage n value for money. Chalky mineral with an essence of salty rocks. Light raspberry and abit burgundian feel. Abit of bubble gum. It is good when open and drink but very quickly it goes downhill — 3 years ago

Ceccherini and Peter liked this