Kind Of Wild
Paolo Bea
San Valentino Sangiovese Blend 2017
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2017 San Valentino pours a slightly hazy, ruby color with medium+ viscosity and light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart, red fruit: sour Montmorency cherry, wood varnish, horse blanket, black licorice, old wood, and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. One of the more wild vintages of San Valentino I’ve ever had and this bottle wasn’t quite as good as the one I had a couple years back. Drink now and enjoy what nature gave to Paolo and Giampiero. — 10 months ago
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion has a light tertiary bouquet with black pepper and wild mint touches. It's elegant, even if it misses some vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and fine acidity. The 2013 is cohesive with a dash of white pepper. Moderate in terms of length, this is a very decent showing in a difficult vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 2 years ago
Pierre Gonon
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2018
Saint-Joseph V.2018
Northern Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷
Overview
Made entirely from 100% Syrah, this wine hails from one of the most celebrated AOCs of the Northern Rhône. The 2018 vintage was a powerful, structured year, known for ripe fruit and depth, making it one of the standout recent harvests in the appellation.
Aromas & Flavors
Nose: blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and spices (notably black pepper, nutmeg) with floral hints of honeysuckle.
Palate: savory notes of smoked meats, olives, herbs, licorice, chocolate, and a touch of oak, layered beautifully with rich black fruit.
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, meaty, and concentrated with ripe tannins, round structure, and long finish. Balanced acidity ensures freshness while delivering intensity and elegance.
Winemaking & Style
Traditional Rhône winemaking highlights the terroir’s granite soils and classic Syrah character. The 2018 vintage is built for longevity, with the richness of fruit and structure to age gracefully for another decade.
Food Pairing
Ideal with duck confit, braised short ribs, lamb shank, venison stew, or wild mushroom risotto. Pairs just as well with aged cheeses like Comté or Manchego.
Verdict
A textbook Saint-Joseph: bold yet elegant, savory yet fruity, with the hallmark spice and depth that defines Northern Rhône Syrah. Aging potential of 10+ years, but already showing incredible balance and drinkability now. — 3 months ago
Chappellet
Signature Donn Chappellet Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) with the balance being a blend of Petite Verdot (12%), Malbec (8%) and Merlot (3%). Aromas of blueberries, kirsch, violets, forest floor and cedar wood. Well integrated flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, chocolate, tobacco, and graphite. Beautiful notes of vanilla, wild herbs and clay on the long and earthy finish. Amazing complexity and balance! Medium-plus bodied. Beautiful creamy texture and velvety tannins. So good for being so young. Looking forward to trying this wine again in a few years. Thank you so much for sharing this one, Keith S! — a year ago
Michael Shaps
Wild Meadow Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
This wine is a lovely golden color. The nose carries plenty of lemon, citrus minerality, and a touch of oak spice. The palate has a good bit of acidity, lemon, stone fruit, and vanilla. It finishes long, full of citrus and a bit of apricot. This wine is made for seafood, but will also fit well with chicken or lemony pasta dishes. — 6 months ago
Azienda Agricola COS
Terre Siciliane Frappato 2023
That’s seriously delicious. Fresh, vibrant, balanced. Wild red fruits with a hint of herbal, basil? Thyme? Really lovely. Light-med body, almost glou-glou - could def take a slight chill. Really lovely from Cos. — 8 months ago
Dominus Estate
Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016
The closest thing to true Bordeaux style red blend from Napa. This wine really accentuates the vintage and the terroir, along with fruit and soil. The Dominus Estate manages the vineyard via dry farming, relying on nature for water, making a profound difference on great vintages such as 2016. Find a good vintage Dominus and you’re bound to have one of kind. Cheers. — a year ago
Freddy R. Troya
Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.
Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.
Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.
Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.
Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 2 months ago