Rocks Of Bawn
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986
My sisters birth year and finally time to open it. Pairing with rack of lamb for Christmas dinner. Opened and decanted for a couple hours. Starts off light and not very expressive. Finished with dinner as an incredible robust Bordeaux with great fruit and depth. Wow. This wine showed why old Bordeaux rocks. — 3 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005
Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.
The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.
Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.
The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.
Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 5 years ago
Edmunds St. John
Rocks and Gravel Dry Creek Valley Grenache Blend 2015
From magnum. Last vintage of this ever made and in an amazing spot. Light on its feet while still showing wild and somewhat brooding character. This disappeared rather quickly. — 6 months ago
Beaulieu Vineyard
Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997
The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.
The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.
The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.
The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.
If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley. — a year ago
Thibaud Boudignon
Anjou Chenin Blanc 2018
Like drinking lightning bolts ⚡️ Ripe green pear, white peach, tart citrus, zest and pith, citrus blossom, tea leaves, crushed chalk, a layer of spring honey just barely. Tense on day one with electric acidity. Day 2 showing more aromatic complexity and a kiss of breadth on the palate. So much acid and rocks. Day 4 still fresh as a daisy — 5 years ago
Jones Family Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈🎆 🧨
1997 Jones Family, the year prior to TRB taking the helm and yet still a fantastic Napa vintage that is singing.
For me, this is classically styled Napa Cabernet. This is still not descending. Has another 5-8 years of good drinking and perhaps beyond.
Showing dark, meaty, dry, velvety tannins. Dark currants-blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries, plum pudding, chocolate mousse/cake, caramel, mocha powder, dark spice, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, anise, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, graphite, dry stone, volcanic clay, withering, dark, red, purple flowers, excellent round acidity and a well made, balanced, nicely tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and falls onto earth & spice. — 6 months ago
Ciro Picariello
Fiano di Avellino 2018
Tight at first. Resembles other fianos until it gets some air. Meaning some light tangerine and pear notes, rocks in a stream, with good spice and acidity. Then it gets caramel apples, spice, chestnut, walnut, oyster/mushroom, with lots of electric minerals tingling over the whole mouth. There’s something great about good fianos and grecos, maybe it’s volcanic, but the spice and electric mineral component takes on a piquancy like blue cheese. I love it, and this is probably my favorite young. I wish I had space to put some aside. Not super long but full of flavor. — 5 years ago
Seavey Vineyard
Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Double decant (lots of chunky sediment) and pour. A noble dark garnet color with little browning on the edges. On the nose: beautiful.....that sweet aged cab aroma with blue fruit, black olives, green veggies, eucalyptus, crushed rocks. Taste: Red plum, chocolate espresso, pencil lead, some blackberry. Beautiful sweet tannins coat the mouth....such a elegant, rich wine with a long finish. — 5 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
Medium lemon colour . This is showing a little more complex and detailed than the last time . Lemon rind , crushed rocks , ginger and white flowers , touch of brioche also . On the palate a bit more dense , but with good balanced acidity and lemon rind , brioche , ginger and toasty , mineral finish. Drinkable now , though best days will be in 5-10 years time , though I don’t think this will be as long lived as the 2012 . — 5 months ago