Influence Wines

Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier

Lieu Dit Malakoff Pyrenees Shiraz 2016

Red berry, some oak influence, minerality and savory as well, nice balance, medium-long finish, solid Aussie Shiraz! — 16 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Andrew and 2 others liked this
Bob McDonald

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Sorry. Just noticed the top line on the label. Chapoutier has been doing other joint ventures with Australian winemakers.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I don’t know if they’re still doing this wine, but I believe Terlato is the name of an importer (?), maybe of Chapoutier wines, in Chicago (IL)??
Bob McDonald

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@Doug Powers i can’t say Doug.

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

I haven’t had a lot of experience with Napa Valley Chardonnay but this was most enjoyable. Rich and mouth filling, creamy. Stone fruit and almonds. Barb said white flowers on the nose. Apparently this was picked early and malolactic fermentation was blocked. Oak influence is totally integrated - balanced. I paid $147 AUD in Brisbane in September 2021. A lot dearer than what you might pay in the States I would guess. — 10 months ago

Dawn, Pooneet and 25 others liked this
Byron Hewett

Byron Hewett Premium Badge

US$50-75 here
John Van Trijp

John Van Trijp Premium Badge

@Bob McDonald THE winner of the Paris Tasting
David T

David T Influencer Badge

It is those Aussie US import-export fees. We were going to ship some Standish back to the States from the property and when Standish called us and said the shipping/import fees were are much as the three bottles, we passed. They’re not that had to find here.

Sonoma Coast Vineyards

Freestone Hills Pinot Noir 2018

Really nice. Definitely Sonoma coast with a bit of Russian river influence. Strawberries, baking spices galore, decomposing redwood forest, some cherry and maybe a bit of plum. It’s great but similar to a lot of other Pinots from that area. — 2 years ago

Josh liked this

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2019

Exotic red fruit notes. Red and black raspberry w exotic spice, earthy flavors. A lot of nice Oak influence. Very nice balance. Quite a lot of tannins. Can use more time in the bottle, but, already delicious.
Fantastic Rioja wine. Love it.
$26
— 2 days ago

Abbas, Ray and 5 others liked this

Château Vannières

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 1998

1998 vintage. Cork a little dry near the bottom so called out the Durand for a rescue. Less meniscus than expected. Dusty, earthy nose. Medium body. Heaps of allspice/sandalwood, prunes and baking chocolate hovering about in the medicinal/oily nose and (mostly) in the flavor profile. Ridiculously reminiscent of an aged (‘80’s-‘90’s) Branaire-Ducru St. Julien BDX. So much so that, if blind tasting, that is the guess. This is gliding along. No highs or lows to navigate currently. Not a showstopper by any means but one helluva ringer in a blind tasting. Some bretty influences here and there but nothing warranting a red card/dq. Picked up slightly more body and a noticeable cinnamon/clove note on the finish after being open for an hour. Also...some muddiness along with a sudden frontal-palate richness (at the 1.5 hours open mark) reminiscent of Petit Verdot involvement/influence. WTF?!?! Bring it! 4.21.24. — 9 months ago

Jan, Ted and 7 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

1996 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Decent fill and not throwing as much sediment as expected. Cork in great shape and only bottom fourth saturated. Expressive nose of extreme, maritime cedar influence and graphite/lead pencil. Plenty of color with a very thin meniscus. Have never been the biggest Mouton fan (least fave of the First Growths) but this is in the zone/at the top of the bell curve/rollin rollin rollin rollin now and for the foreseeable decade+ without drop-off. Decidedly not improving, but on the hell yes plateau for 12-15 years. Nose substantially translates into the finish, adding sandalwood and that massive, muscular and intimidating dark, plummy thrust. Professional opinion suspects this would be tasting better in another 2 hours. Don't sell your biggies short (all too frequent mistake). They gotta stretch them legs. 7.7.23. — 2 years ago

Jan, Andrew and 15 others liked this

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

2022 vintage. First vintage under Lorenzetti ownership. Oak dominating initially, needs a few hours to open up. Concentrated black fruit with serious oak influence. Lots of potential, but doesn't have the charm of the 2020 today. Ab. 14,,5% — 2 months ago

Tom, Peter and 1 other liked this

Giant Steps

Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Brief notes. Sweet red fruits - raspberry and strawberry. Whole bunch influence. An excellent Yarra Valley Pinot Noir with a proven track record but at the end of the day Applejack Vineyard is marginally in front of Sexton Vineyard IMO. — 5 months ago

jesus, Andrew and 19 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Slightly deeper ruby garnet , narrower rim . Deeper and younger , touch of wood smoke then quite ripe black fruits , rounder with better definition on the nose than the 1994 . More degraded cassis and grafite noticeable than the wine before, tobacco , touch of seashell , marine influence comes though . On the palate the fruit fills out better than the 1994, quite dark and serious , grafite , tobacco and cedar , however the tannin is less rustic and better integrated . Nice balancing acidity. This has quite good length and is showing well now though could age a little longer. Probably is best drunk over the next few years — a year ago

Tom, Severn and 6 others liked this

Champagne Miniere F & R

Influence Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend 2010

Lifted and bright. Polished in the middle. Great zesty lift on the end. — 2 years ago

Severn, Vanessa and 8 others liked this