Family Time Is Hard

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, leather, vanilla, spices, earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex, spicy and tangy. Rich and elegant.

Showing a great mouthfeel with good balance.

Needs 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent, although not as good as their Estate Cabernet.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

A nice sipping wine, good by itself or with food.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150.
— 4 days ago

Lyle, Anthony and 14 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Medium deep ruby , slightly wider more garnet rim . Spicy cassis and grafite , with some wood spice on the nose , quite austere and aloof . On the palate nice grafite tinged cassis , with mineral backbone , slightly austere personality. Refreshing acidity and slightly grippy tannins . Ok length . This is quite an austere wine at the moment with just enough mid palate to cover the bones . This needs a little more time , 2-3 years perhaps and will last well a further 6-10, but I don’t think this has the fruit for long term aging . — 5 months ago

Jan, Tom and 3 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2020

At Bottega Restaurant in Napa. Trying this 2020 Super Tuscan. Nose is aromatic with black cherry, tobacco, espresso, and pepper spice. Taste is robust with black cherry herbs, cedar and tannic. Needs more time. — 5 months ago

Jill YoungLeslie PiersonKarin Blazona
with Jill, Leslie and 1 other
Tom, Shay and 14 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Black cherries stand out against earthy beet and blackberry. Graphite rings and smoke curls around bay and sage, acanthus and peppercorn. Green in spots and muted on the palate, this one is unfortunately young and missing something. Pepper and cedar overpower the fruits and the tannins are aggressive here, giving a stemmy impression. May develop over time but gangly and awkward here.


#chateaupichonlonguevillecomtessedelalande #pichonlongueville #2016 #pauillac #appellationpauillaccontrôlée #bordeaux #grandcruclasséde1855
— 6 months ago

Severn, Tom and 1 other liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1999

Medium ruby , quite wide garnet , terracotta rim . Quite spiced tobacco , red focused sous bois , warm spice , coffee and cacao , a little foursquare , rustic perhaps . On the palate better , quite juicy and rounded , spiced red plum , dark cherry , dry spice . This becomes more saline with time in the glass, balanced acidity and some slightly gritty tannins. This is probably in the middle of its drinking window , and will remain here over the next 5-10 years perhaps. Within the context of Haut Brion , this perhaps is just a little below par . — 6 days ago

Tom, Tom and 13 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 2 months ago

Bob, Ira and 12 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Pontet Canet was underachieving big time in 81. The 82 was great (I bought futures!). And after that it was a gradual climb back to the high quality level that had been lacking in the 70s.
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande ‘81 was tough but they are still alive to tell the story. Agree that they have been on the ascendency since then.

Enderle & Moll

Liaison Pinot Noir 2021

After a warm 2020 this 2021 is more backwards and classic and reminds me of the 2016‘s. The first bottle had a touch VA which blew off. Second one has no VA. Violets and a hint of roses. Robust beautiful cherry 🍒. Touch bark. This is a top vintage for them. Awesomeness in a bottle for a ridiculous low price for this quality. It’s hard to put the glass down - it is that good. So in this instance I do rate this higher than Lyle F. 3 days later on the Argon line - this is still exceptional elegant and unique. Gained weight and at the same time super elegant. What a wine. — 5 months ago

Spencer, Lyle and 3 others liked this
Lyle Fass

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2022 is much better for me. Best since 18. 21 is nice but lacks some density.

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Medium Ruby with quite wide garnet rim. More truffle , tobacco , violet , cassis and earthy notes. Takes a bit of time to get going and certainly shows a bit more age than the 2009. On the palate, more austere with dryer tannin than the 2009 , but very well balanced and classic in style . Cassis, blackcurrant , tobacco graphite notes . Some dry spices too . Quite fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannin. Long , saline, graphite tinged finish. This is showing some development , but will improve further over the next 5 possibly 10 years and hold well a further 5-10 — 6 days ago

Tom, Shay and 11 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Dark rubi robe, nose of dark cherries, cocoa, blackcurrant, cedar, asian spices and wood spice. Very elegant and same time bold in the mouth, complex, good length. This is classical claret at its best. Was decanted 45 minutes before our fois gras and Simmental steak was served. Great stuff. Was our Mother’s day meal. — 4 months ago

veronique paillardJose Roberto PalazzoAdriana Pagliano
with veronique, Jose and 1 other
Adriana, Jamie and 3 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days and showed very well throughout. The 2012 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some browning towards the rim; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with secondary characteristics just starting to show themselves. Also, the solar nature of 2012 is showing through with loads of truffles and overripe and desiccated red and black fruits: tartufo bianco d’Alba, dried cherry, bruised raspberries, red roses, leather, Fig Newtons, dried herbs, and some dusty and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, drying and savory. I’ve been a vocal fan of the 2012 vintage of Produttori since release and this might be the best showing yet. This is my last 750mL. My remaining bottles are magnums and I’ll look forward to enjoying those over the next 10-15 years. No rush, but this is a fun time to drink these as the truffle character is starting to peak through. — 5 months ago

Juan, Vanessa and 14 others liked this