Manuel Abreu
Manuel Cantalapiedra
Lirondo Verdejo
Lirondo' Verdejo 2021
😋: Ripe peaches, lemon, savory spice.
🍽️: Try pairing with seafood, greens, or BBQ chicken.
Manuel Cantalapiedra was a classical pianist before taking up winemaking and overseeing his family’s vineyard in Rueda, 🇪🇸. This Verdejo wine had brief skin contact before fermenting in stainless steel tanks, followed by 6 months on its lees, resulting in a vibrant and textured wine. — 3 months ago
Jones Family Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
The follow up to the 03 Leonetti. @Paul T- Huntington Beach & I have been telling readers about older Jones Family Vineyards for some time. If you haven’t had or not tried this producer it will be the last time I try to entice to you to try this producer. Talking about it more will only drive up the prices on the secondary market.
This 09 is damn beautiful after nearly a four hour decant but it is still fairly youthful.
It is ruby, lush, gorgeous, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, plum, hues of purple, blue fruits & raspberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, mixed, dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry top soil, dry herbs, hints of eucalyptus, dry clay, dry tobacco, new leather, spice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, withering red & dark florals framed in violets & lavender, beautiful round acidity, beautiful; balance, tension, structured, smartly polished finished that lasts minutes.
Still needs another 5-8 years to show its best self.
The Jones Family vineyard is located off Bale Lane in Calistoga and was planted to all five Bordeaux varieties by David Abreu in the early 1990s. Heidi Barrett made the wines until 2008, and Thomas Rivers Brown now makes the wines. — 6 months ago
Abreu Vineyards
Cappella Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012
The 2012 Cappella is classy, elegant and wonderfully expressive. Just starting to open, the 2012 offers up a beguiling mix of dark fruit, cinnamon, blood orange, mocha and new leather. Plush contours add to its immediacy and overall appeal. What a gorgeous wine it is. As is typically the case, the Cappella is the most sensual and alluring wine in the range. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 2 months ago
Manuel José Colares
Casta Ramisco 1997
Lighter in color than the much older 1969, but much more expressive aromatically, dusty, sandy red-fruited aromas, flavors tend toward red-fruit as well, more of an elegant style of Ramisco, long finish, this seems at peak, or close to it (but I have more bottles, so will check in again within a year). Both of these are amazing at 11% ABV!! — 3 months ago
Bodegas Muga
Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2019
Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — a month ago
Abreu Vineyards
Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Evolving nicely. Drank even better the second day. — 7 months ago
Château Grand Corbin Manuel
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
2019 vintage. Merlot ( 85%) and Cabernet Franc (15%). Nice wine, if a bit overextracted for my taste.. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. — 8 months ago
Tom Garland
1 hour decant(lots of fine/cloudy sediment). A remarkable deep purplish garnet color. On the nose: stewed sour red berries, menthol, cassis, floral, graphite. Taste: Wow!! Silky, creamy, elegant, fresh, dense mouthfeel wine with blackberry, cassis, earth, graphite, and a slightly spiced herb and tar medium plus finish. YUM! Glad to have 2 more bottles. — a month ago