Far From The Crowd

EnRoute Winery

Les Pommiers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Bought from Far Niente in Napa, 2025. We both love it. — 2 months ago

Jim Czekner
with Jim

Château Brane-Cantenac

Grand Cru Classé en 1855 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

#AgedWineTuesday

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium plus intensity.

Pretty nose with red and black fruits, wood, earth, tobacco, black coffee and spices.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, peppercorn, forest floor, earth, black tea, vegetables and herbs.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 16 year old from Margaux, is drinking very nicely now. Showing nice balance and elegance. Soft and very dry.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets much earthier as it opens up, with lots of earth and forest floor notes. Really enjoyed the nose.

The 2008 vintage was not a good one, and although it's still very tasty, I don't see it getting any better from this point.

I've had a few vintages of this Second Growth Bordeaux, and I found it to be all over the place. The 2016 was my favorite so far.

Wine Advocate 92 points. Wine Spectator 87 Points.

Paired very nicely with a burger and fries.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

13% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$130.
— a year ago

Bob, Paul and 12 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Quite deep ruby slightly narrower rim . This is more closed than any of the previous wines . Quite austere and more mineral , grafite notes . Quite serious on the palate with mineral and dusty cassis , cedar . Good refreshing acidity , slightly dry gritty tannins noticeable . This probably shows the best balance of the 4 so far , all the parts seem better integrated. Dark cassis , cedar and grafite , though not the marine/seashell influence of the 1995. Better length than all the previous wines . This will go further and is probably in the middle of its drinking window, from now and onwards for another 10 years perhaps ? — 2 years ago

Tom, Severn and 11 others liked this

Far Niente Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Drinking the 2021 in 2025. Big rich bouquet! Oak, earth and rich ripe fruit. Thick long lasting legs. Wonderful flavor from start to finish. Love this wine!!! — 4 months ago

Joe, Dave and 4 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1993

Label was gone so you'll all just have to believe me that this was a Cheval blanc 🤣. Very far along with leather, mushroom and forest floor flavours. Great wine from a poor vintage — a year ago

Dick, Daniel and 14 others liked this

Domaine Faiveley (Joseph Faiveley)

Mercurey Pinot Noir

Sourced from 5 parcels spread throughout 95 acres. Vines date back as far as 1962 and soils are primarily clay and limestone. Dark Ruby color with aromas of red fruits and gentle spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with herb and peppery spice. Fine tannins, medium+ finish, well balanced, ending with fruit and mineral character. — 2 years ago

Anthony, Tom and 3 others liked this

Domaine François Buffet

Les Narbantons Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2023

Lyle Fass
9.4

This is such a special Savigny. Stunning nose of dark flowers, dark cherry fruit, gorgeous clear earth and loads of violets. I love the darker fruit profile of this wine. The nose is so fragrant. Just layered and complex but so floral. 9.6 nose. I said what I said. Palate is gorgeous but needs to catch up to the nose which it will and always does. Tannic but sweet, long and lingering and great freshness and the classic darker fruit profile that Buffet always gets from this site. Really fresh and full of energy but man oh man does this need air. Most backwards so far of all the 23 Buffets. I’ll be back. This needed 36 hours or so to come around. It’s elegant, serious and stunning but needs 20 years. 9.3 to 9.4. — 4 months ago

Ira, Zach and 8 others liked this

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Crushed rocks and mineral rocks. tannin is resolved and pencil lead and cassis. no vegetal but floral. i just not sure how far is from the latest vintage with those high scores — 2 years ago

Peter, Peter and 9 others liked this

Far Niente Winery

Post & Beam Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

From the Far Niente winery. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits with floral spice and oaky notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry, blackberry and red plum with licorice, vanilla, leather and espresso. Tannins are fine, a bit tight, long finish ending with fruit, toasty cedar and earthy spice. Enjoyable now but a few years will reward. Pair this with a fillet mignon with a Cabernet sauce. — 2 years ago

Ericsson, Juan and 6 others liked this