Judge & Jury

Christopher Tynan Wines

Judge Family Vineyard Syrah 2015

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2015 Judge Family Vineyard Syrah pours a deep, inky, ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with pungent notes of bacon fat, dark brambles, toasted blueberry crisp, lavender, dried green herbs and fine baking spice. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is aging slowly and gracefully. This remains my favorite Syrah made in the United States. Drink now through 2045. — 15 days ago

Ceccherini, Pooneet and 13 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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I have never seen this. Will be on the lookout!
Jay Kline

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To@Tom Casagrande Christopher Tynan is the winemaker at Cliff Lede. This is his eponymous label. He only makes one Cabernet from a single, unique vineyard and this Syrah.

Christopher Tynan Wines

Judge Family Vineyard Bennett Valley Syrah 2016

It’s getting into the zone now.
Jeb 98, not sure any Myriad Syrah received that high of rating, but it is Jeb🤷🏼‍♂️

According to Jeb, Along with the 2013, the 2016 Syrah Judge Family Vineyard is up with the greats, and I’d put this up against any Syrah in California or France. Offering incredible purity of fruit as well as notes of blueberries, blackberries, crushed flowers, gamey meats, and pepper, it’s more forward and opulent than the 2015 yet has fabulous depth and concentration, ripe tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. Hats off to Tynan for another insanely good Syrah that can be drunk today or cellared for 20 years or more.
— 4 years ago

Tom, Jason and 19 others liked this
Jason and Jennie

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Sounds epic

Enderle & Moll

Baden Pinot Noir 2018

Wine 6/12 (Pinot Noir aka 'Peanut of the Night')

Nose has ripe cherry, tree bark, roses, blood orange slice, minor cedar notes, molasses cookie and fresh blackberry.

Palate has dried strawberry, ripe cherry, dried citrus, tart cherry, molasses, baking spices with notable tannins/acidity, a very long finish.

A perfect wine for any party, if you don't like this there might be something wrong with you. Are you a dyed-in-the-wool White Zinfandel fan, maybe this isn't your game then.

Once again it is notable that I have made one full trip around the Sun earlier this week. We had our small, social bubble team to the house for celebrating my getting older and somewhat less flexible in advancing age...Whatever will be done when I creast 50? Well, at least it's several years until needing manage that concern.

We enjoyed well-salted Ribeyes (Kinderhook Farm - Valatie, NY, prepared 48h in advance), turning to a beautiful medium-rare after a mere 12m of grill time and smashed, small red potatoes with capers (yeah try it, don't judge me yet). None of the bottles were particularly planned as 'steak wines'; we didn't care as it really was a wine nerd-fest of grapes/regions, from Burgenland, Austria to Brittany, France. Wine and food were on individual plateaux today. This was the vom Boden Spring Experience case, expertly curated by Stephen Bitterolf, and well received by our tasting crew.
— 5 years ago

Josh, Alex and 24 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

The 18th Pinot’s of E&M are impressive in fact I consider it one of the best if not the best vintage since inception.
Severn G

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@Pinotman /// Andreas I think this might be the best yet, and this this is only the entry level.

Judge Palmer

Beckstoffer Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

This wine is drinking really well. Nice and juicy but still has nice tannin structure on the finish! — 14 days ago

Kongsgaard

The Judge Napa Valley Chardonnay

She’ll never let you down… I don’t think I’ve ever had a better or more complex wine. Each vintage is just another surprise in taste. — 8 months ago

Ben liked this

Novy Family Winery

Judge Family Vineyard Syrah 2007

Blind tasting of six pinots - or pinot “impostors”. @delectable, this is the Grenache, not the Syrah. — 4 years ago

Aravind, Josh and 9 others liked this

Bellwether

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

See previous notes. Classic Coonawarra mint, black fruits, dark chocolate and cigar box. Singing at 11 years but will go for another decade at least. Barb and I are flying to Adelaide today. Hire Car tomorrow for the 4 1/2 hours drive south to Coonawarra where we will be doing vintage at Bellwether for a week. Should be illuminating, hard work and rewarding with a great tutor in Sue Bell, owner and winemaker. Sue was lucky enough to be one of 12 in the annual Len Evans Tutorial a few years ago where they taste wines most of us can only dream of including flights of DRC, Rousseau etc. Sue was the Dux of her year and is in demand around Australia as a Show Judge. Should be a great week. — 4 years ago

Severn, David and 18 others liked this

Judge Palmer

Vintage Select Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

well balanced cab of dark fruits, nose, acids, and a palate hanger. still has a few years but definitely close. — 4 months ago

Neil, Paul and 3 others liked this

Mas de Boislauzon

Tintot Special Cuvée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2015

We pulled this from our cellar and brought it to V. Mertz for dinner. We enjoyed a couple of other wines as aperitifs and then ultimately did what anyone given the opportunity should do: pair it with lamb chops. We poured it into a decanter while we enjoyed the conversation and opening courses. Given the setting, there were no formal notes however, I can confidently report that the 2015 “Tintot” absolutely slaps. From the first sip to the last, it was all balance, power and class. It was also a spectacular showcase for Mourvèdre. It was hard to fully judge color because the lighting was so low but it appeared to be nearly opaque. A touch feral with a slightly gamey element to it but there’s a great big ol’ basket of black and blue fruits with red and purple flowers, garrigue, some black pepper and cedar chest. Structure is still quite firm but totally enjoyable. While this is an unusual assemblage for the region, it still comes across as a wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This was my first “Tintot” and it has left quite the impression. Drink now with an hour decant or over the next 7-10 years. P.S. it probably goes without saying, but the pairing with lamb chops was sublime. — 3 years ago

Severn, Daniel and 8 others liked this

Burt Street Cellars

Judge Vineyard Grenache 2015

Juicy and bight with some good depth. Pairs well with dessert, fruit and pirates booty! — 4 years ago

Tom liked this