Higher Plane

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Smooth, hint of sour cherry, cigar and leather flavor, bolder than a normal Margaux due to the higher level of Petit Merlot in the blend, paired beautifully with a rich pumpkin ravioli dish. — a month ago

Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2017 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 12. This has a perfumed and quite floral bouquet with blackberries and violets. It shows lovely definition and mineralité, that hint of wild heather coming through but none of the previous menthol scents. The palate is exceptionally well-balanced with chiseled tannins, which are a perfect bead of acidity. I adore how this gathers momentum towards the lightly spiced, persistent finish. This shows better than when I tasted it just after bottling six years ago, hence my higher score. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— a year ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

Lots of dark, tart plum and blue berry upfront, converting into into a mineral earthiness on the mid palette and settling in a balanced, lingering vibrant finish with fine polished fully integrated tannins. Full body, but lacking evolving layers of complexity for a higher score. Had expected just a little more from this 2010 5th growth from Pauillac. — 4 years ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Ira, Jan and 7 others liked this

Neal Family Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Paul J
9.7

@ Silverspoon. Open 30+ minutes in the bottle. This was amazing!! Bold yet refined. Savory with that Napa sweetness present. Could mistake for a higher end Bordeaux with cedar and anise. Simply great! — 8 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Daniel and 6 others liked this

Jacques Selosse

Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

Wonderful nose, toasted almond, sherry, lemon, ripe pear. Oxidation is just right- not overwhelming, but adds to complexity and character. Slightly orange color, full bodied. Would love to know actual alcohol, label says 11-14%, but tears indicated higher alcohol, but very well balanced. Disgorged 14 November 2019. — 2 years ago

Ira liked this

Hubert Lamy

En Remilly Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Chardonnay 2018

Lamy’s En Remilly is usually a wine I hold in higher regard, but this bottle was knocked back by a touch of… dare I say… premature oxidation. With Diam 30 and a thick white wax cap (plus a great track record), you can be sure this was again a function of bad cold chain in Malaysia. Sigh. Having said that, it was still a decent showing - loved the mineral saturation the wine displayed from start to finish. The nose was rich and still detailed with aromas of popcorn, wheat grain, iodine, pear, unripe pineapple, lanolin, and a tinge of mint as well as the dreaded oxidative musk. The palate was dense, saline, expectedly taut, and had a lovely texture that seemingly enveloped the tongue. The oxidative honey note was rather distracting in the finish, but a chill did help mask it. Actually superb with confited ocean trout, but I can’t help but feel robbed of the full enjoyment of this wine. — 4 years ago

Andrew, Ron and 9 others liked this

Vieux Château Mazerat

St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Paul J
9.6

1hr+ decant. This was great, but did fade faster than expected so I’d drink up. Very complex nose and palate that can only be found in higher end Bordeaux’s. Great depth and long finish. Not sure if this is being produced any more, but if it is, I’m a buyer. — 9 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Jan and 4 others liked this

Trapiche

Broquel Malbec 2021

Rating this a little higher because I am having delicious blue cheese that is pairing very well with it. A bit light for a Malbec, but holding up well with blue. — 3 years ago

Ceritas

Porter-Bass Vineyard Chardonnay 2012

PnP. My initial impression was something wasn’t right. Not reductive or oxidative just couldn’t figure it out. Took about an hours time swirling and a heavy shake. Nice zesty zing that grew in weight to almost having a tropical note to it. Would have scored higher if not the weirdness upon opening. — 3 years ago

Ira and Milissa liked this

Michele Chiarlo

Cerequio Barolo Nebbiolo 2010

Dark Ruby with aromas of black fruits and complex notes of spice, herb and earth. It was a cooler season in 2010, resulting in higher acidity that made this wine big and needed a lot more time in the bottle, than the last time I tried in order to soften the massive tannin structure. On the palate plum and blackberry flavors with some nutty notes, wet stone and earthy herbs show harmoniously on the palate. Full body, fine tannins with a deep rich long finish. A Gem! Tasting well now! — 5 years ago

Juan, Alex and 4 others liked this
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Nice barolo, got to try the 2000 vintage many years back it ingrained in my brain 🧠