Round The Blend

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Incredible depth and breadth on this 25 year old. Still boasting tannins that are round and firm. Meaty, chewy and impeccable, with a bresaola nose, dried blackberry, cassis, chocolate, espresso, cedar and tobacco. Black cherry, graphite, maduro cigar, blackberry, and bay.


#pichonlonguevillebaron #pichonbaron #bordeaux #deuxiemescru #bordeauxrouge #paulliac
— 14 days ago

Bob, Daniel and 14 others liked this
ESF

ESF

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Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2022

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — 8 days ago

Andrew, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Blend

Vivid pinkish-salmon hue with a fine stream of bubbles. Notes of strawberry, citrus peel, green apple, and brioche. Crisp acidity, a creamy mousse, and perfectly balanced dosage. Refreshing, elegant, and succulent, with a long, zesty finish. — 3 months ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

Medium ruby garnet , quite wide light garnet rim. Quite round sweet red cherry , spiced strawberry , blackberry , quite fruit driven still . With some tobacco and earthy hints . On the palate this is more red fruited , quite spiced cherry and strawberry with iodine hints and seaside notes . Good fresh acidity and quite rounded ripe tannins . Not particularly dense or intense on the palate , but well balanced and elegant with a reasonable , iron filling tinged finish . This is showing well now , and will continue to do so over the next 5-8 years. From magnum — 6 days ago

Ira, Anthony and 11 others liked this
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

I have this one in mgm too. Do you see it improving over the next 5-8 years or lasting for 5-8 years? Thx
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

@Anthony De Blasi I don’t see it improving much , it’s already delicious and the tannins are pretty much resolved , it already shows some development but still has enough fruit, there is no rush to enjoy it however . So my 5-8 years is estimating its prime drinking window … and as usual I would prefer to underestimate than overestimate…. Though these wines tend to age at their own pace 😅… enjoy your magnums !
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Thank you for your feedback Andrew!

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — 4 days ago

Jeroen, Jan and 10 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2021

Unbelievably young but already smooth. Really fruity at this stage but will evolve nicely. Was hard to identify as a Supertuscan. Would consider buying some of this vintage and forgetting about it for 10 years... — 5 days ago

Lies, Ira and 23 others liked this

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2010

New vintage release tasting at Vega Sicilia in Ribera del Duero. The 2015 Unico presented an elegant profile, while the 2020 Valbuena showcased a bolder character. Traditionally, Unico is known for its power and structure, whereas Valbuena tends to be the more refined and elegant wine. Staff assured me it is not a reversal in winemaking techniques but rather a juxtaposition of their respective vintages. — a month ago

Jose, Bob and 10 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.5

From 375ml. @Lira Restaurant The Chef is the Gordon Ramsey winner.

Resolved, velvety M+ tannins. Ruby fruits of; blackberry pie, black raspberries, blueberries, both plums, dark cherries & raspberries. Dark chocolate bar, slightly moist tobacco, sandalwood to barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry herbs, light cinnamon, clove, vanillin, mocha, dry, volcanic clay, dark, withering flowers, some lavender framed in violets, excellent round acidity with incredible, balance, perfectly tensioned, softly structured, elegance finish that lasts a full minute.
— 19 days ago

Tom, Joe and 14 others liked this

Bollinger

Special Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Crowd pleaser of a Champagne thats always a joy to drink 😍 — 5 days ago

Bob, Ted and 14 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Quite a lot of cassis, herbal grafite notes , touch of blackberry , scorched earth , a bit for floral after a while in the glass. On the palate this shows more sweet dark fruit, touch of spicy oak, blackcurrant , dark cherry and cacau . Balanced acidity and sweet slightly grippy tannins , just balanced alcohol . Spicy sweet blackcurrant, grafite tinged finish , decent length. This is still young and quite fruit driven but is enjoyable now with food . Better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 8-10. — 6 days ago

Somm, Rob and 10 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

This is not a knock on anyone or this producer. For 10 years a friend of mine was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus. He is now back in Bordeaux, rebuilt & raised the quality of Clerc Milon. Now is in charge of all Rothschild properties. This is just me thinking out loud. I have been to this property many times and bought a glass of their Cabernet to take to their top deck and take in a spectacular view of the Napa Valley. Enjoyed many of their vintages in those very nice moments. However, knowing the quality of 2012 vintage and their price point, I and I think most expect & want more than a 92 point wine. Which begs the question, how long can they push bottle price with this level of quality? At what point does the quality price ratio kick in? To a bigger picture, how sustainable is the high quality respected producer wine economic model going forward? To me, a fascinating question going forward.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Yes @Somm David T , this was actually served blind , the only wine at lunch ..and we had plenty of time to get to know it before the big reveal . I was trying to evaluate the quality in the glass without the distraction of the label, which is always an illuminating experience . It’s a good wine, and went very will with our steaks but it certainly doesn’t represent good value nor is it a stellar example of 2012 . I would be perfectly happy to have it again mind you , as long as I wasn’t paying .