For A Song

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

2022 vintage. From Coravin. The same vintage Overture shows better currently and likely for quite some time. 2022 a fairly pilloried Napa vintage. Feel this could be similar to the 2011's that are finally showing to the best of their abilities now. Give this a decade and a half but don't expect it to eventually show top-notch like the 1987, 1994, 1997, 2001 or 2012. 6.24.26. — 3 days ago

Jan, Bob and 8 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Complete agreement.
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

🔥🔥🔥

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1990

Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — a month ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Jay, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Of course Doug! Laurence has some magic in her.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Jay Kline, my brother and I visited Laurence once, in 2005, what a phenomenal lady she was, climbing all over barrels to get samples, we finished with the very youthful 2004, we both thought it great, and she said she wasn’t sure at that point about the 2004!! Great visit!!

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Slight younger looking , a little more ruby both in the core but still mostly garnet rim.
This is high toned slightly redder fruit , less dense than the preceding 3 . Cherry , red plum , cedar, seaspray . On the palate this is again quite elegant and refined , cherry , red plum some cassis , red plum , cigar box . Not overly weighty with perhaps a little less noticeable tannin than some of the others . Long vibrant , spicy grafite tinged finish . Very elegant , reserved and I suppose very Lafite , this grows during the experience but was actually voted in last place by the group , that somehow doesn’t surprise me, at the end of the day one wine did have to come last, and this was relatively discreet only showing its real breeding and class with time in the glass. Needs time , but is very promising , probably another 5-10 years (as with almost all the others ) , will last well a further 20 if not more . The elegance and style of this wine is fantastic , this really grows in the glass . Had to be Lafite for me . Bronze medal here .
— 2 months ago

Jan, "Odedi" and 4 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

A lovely wine. Luscious cherries, plums, vanilla, mocha, and some cedar. A great wine for the price. Stag’s Leap always makes consistently fine wines. — 3 months ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1983

it’s interesting because this bottle was not properly kept for several years, the cork fell apart upon opening, but this 1983 vintage ,was still delightfully good ! in spite of the improperly kept history, as a Sauturne. It has a nice delightful, sweet and aromatic taste that was quite pleasant to drink. It was open today, March 22, 2026. — 3 months ago

Dave, Joel and 9 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer.
— 4 months ago

Andrew, Rick and 9 others liked this
Joe DAscoli

Joe DAscoli Premium Badge

The 07 such a great wine

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Jan A
9.9

Peak, flirting with perfection. Others called out farm/barnyard notes, I thought it was more hansaplast plasters. Anyways, this was very Bordeaux for a napa wine and very napa for a Bordeaux blend. Catching the perfect balance between sweet napa generosity and cooler bdx notes. — a month ago

Peter, Sharon and 11 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Yah...jelly. Always wondered about how those completely sealed wax tops fared as the wines aged. I suspect we are finding out exactly noww...such a favored producer.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Jan A
9.6

Soft and round, a point for my palate.

I've had limited experience with first growths until now and I always was blown away by how young these first growths presented themselves (70's/80's). Most were much older than the 1996 of today, so I was pleased to see that this was so approachable.
— a month ago

Jan, Jeroen and 13 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind. Medium deep garnet ruby and medium garnet ruby rim . Quite cool and restrained , again lots of grafite and mineral , dark fruits . This is quite deep and dark spicy cassis , blackberry and sea spray , saline . Quite dense and robust on the palate again , lots of fine but ripe tannins. Very long , dense , cassis , cedar grafite saline finish . This is a complete and great example of 2005 , great balance and enormous length , the longest of all on show here. Drinkable now , but surely it’s best days are in the future , wait another 5 -10 years , will last well a further 20 - 25 if not more . The apex of 2005 ? For me this had to be the Latour , and an archetypal example of Latour no less . 1st place and the gold medal . — 2 months ago

Tom, Tom and 9 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2014

Scrumptious! A Champagne that you keep reaching back to your glass for. Still very young and fresh — 2 months ago

Dick, Ira and 20 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Had the 2018 on Easter Sunday, 2026. Let it decant for close to two hours. Full body, silky smooth tannins with hints of cocoa, blackberry, raspberry and a hint of vanilla. Had a touch of leather near the end. Was really tasty. Was a gift from our kids and absolutely fantastic with dinner this evening. — 3 months ago

Matthew HeyboerEthan HeyboerJody Wycech
with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others
Neil, Tom and 7 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2023

Very nice and layered CDP, nose is a nice combination of red fruit, flowers and graphite. On the palate, the fruit hits first and then somewhat quickly gives way to the graphite/mineraly flavors, which last and develop on your palate in an interesting and pleasant way that avoids making me think I just licked a rock. Tannins aren't too powerful but what's there is grippy, could easily lay down for a few years and really develop. Overall this strikes a nice balance between approachable and interesting, easy to like for anyone who's into Rhone reds! — 3 months ago

Tom, Joel and 8 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Legendary

Caymus Vineyards

40th Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

North of my typical price point, this was quite expressive for a cab. Robust fruit flavor, yet smooth. Other bottles suit my palate better. — 4 months ago

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Classic left bank Bordeaux. Well integrated rounded tannins leading the march surrounded with dark fruit and that unmistakable lead pencil. Was hoping for a little more layered complexity. — 4 months ago

Dawn, Bob and 6 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak. — a month ago

RoAnne de WeerdTammy de Weerd
with RoAnne, Tammy and 2 others
Edo, Jan and 4 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak.

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

Decant and pour.  On the nose:  dark fruit, pencil shavings, green bell pepper, leather, mushrooms.   Taste:  a brooding, still austere, structured wine with dark fruit, cassis, smoked earth, cigar, minerals, crushed stone.  Some pronounced tannins want you to give it more time for a better score in the future.

At Cote, Last Vegas
— 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda and
Steve, Paul and 10 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Deep cherry red. Black currant berry and cherry. Leather. Dried herb. Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M Tannin M Silky Bitterness M Body M++ Finish M++ Highly Balanced. Powerful robust structure. Always ready to drink but still have solid impression. It means it still has a potential for long term aging. Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Stag Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 17 @60000, Kayab, 260417 — 2 months ago

Somm liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2020

Yet another outstanding vintage (2020) of this consistently excellent Co-Op produced Barbaresco. Aromas of red fruit, dried rose petals and anise. Flavors of bright red cherry and raspberry fruit, mint, Asian spices, minerals and orange zest. Long and earthy/smoky finish. Fantastic balance, structure and depth. Fine grained tannins and a silky texture yet still firm and powerful. So delicious now, but built to age for at least another decade. The quality consistency of this wine vintage to vintage is incredible. Outstanding value! Thanks so much for opening this one, Keith S! Happy 60th Birthday, Karyn! — 2 months ago

Tom and Dave liked this
Dave

Dave

Yes!

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

1000th wine by delectable 🥳. Controlled power...deep flavours that are starting to integrate nicely. Have wanted to try this for a long time and wasnt let down. Heres to the next 1000 🥂 — 3 months ago

Somm, Austin and 16 others liked this
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Congratulations! I just bought the Petit Sirah and Pagani Ranch 🤩

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Already so lovely, but still so young. Medium ruby red in the glass with long, lusty legs and a wide brim. The nose is exactly what you think a classic Left Bank Bordeaux should be. Cassis, plums, and tobacco immediately upon opening. New leather and oak with just the right amount of earth. Very nice.

Big, powerful, and virile. Amazing balance and purity for a wine so young. Still a bit tannic at times but decanting certainly helps with that. Pretty fruit on the palate with blackberries and cherries. Soft vanilla undertones from start to finish along with licorice and more earth on the tongue.

Very impressive with such depth and such personality. As good as this is today it will be so much better if you can show patience. Put these away and try your best to forget about them and you will be rewarded.
— 4 months ago

Douglas, Ruud and 12 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Very nice wine