So This Happened...

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

Plenty of tannins left. 25bucks. Those were the days! 14%| Quite classic. Browne tinge. Needs at least 2-3 hours of air. Quite harsh and astringent. Roses, earthy and dusty, very dry. Hint of truffles. - Not super exciting at first (15min) so wait. Will last another 10 years - but i do worry about the fruit component if you need space in your cellar - i would suggest drink up. I will. Some folks tend to hype these wines i don’t - after all this is their most basic version with a large production volume. Total volume is 500,000 bottles a year at this cooperative. My guess they to make a lot of this one. — 6 days ago

Tom, Rick and 7 others liked this
Dave Clinton

Dave Clinton

I believe I gave this wine an enthusiastic review as well. Cheers!

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Double-decanted earlier in the day; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1995 pours a perfect garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe cassis, black cherry, mixed flowers, tobacco, earth, menthol and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, integrated tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Classy. This is an elegant expression of Bordeaux and showed so well tonight. Thanks Andy! Drink now through 2040. — 18 days ago

Peter, Tom and 24 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

There is a lot to like about St. Julien producers. But this one might be my favorite.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T I think so too. But then I have a bottle of Gruaud Larose and I second guess myself

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91.3%) and Merlot (8.7%). A bit tight and unexpressive right out of the bottle. After a 45 minute decant, this wine was awake and very alive. Dark ruby color. Aromas of graphite, forest floor, wet gravel and dark black fruit. Flavors of black currant/cherry/berry/plum, tobacco, baking spices, dark chocolate and minerals. Distinct notes of smoky oak and wet earth on the long and lingering finish. Tannins were a bit lighter than expected at first but developed with aeration. Quite savory, rich, full bodied and powerful. Beautiful texture. Exceptional (once it opened up) but not the bottle of near perfection that I had heard so much about. Thanks for sharing, Petey and Happy Birthday, Kase! — 2 months ago

Austin, DAD and 11 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 2009

Only my second time with this wine, so so good. Decanted in glass for a 2-3 hours, opened up perfect. Had with masala burgers which worked great. — 6 days ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Medium lemon colour . Persistent and fine perlage. This is quite restrained at first with lemon oil , toasty baked pastry and oyster shell hints . On the palate this is really quite intense , honied lemon , ginger, toasty yellow fruits , toasted nuts and quite mineral, oyster shell hints. Long and complex on the finish , fresh acidity , intense and complete . Needs a little more time, will show even better in 5 -10 years or so and over the next 10-15 years . — 22 days ago

Jeroen, Tom and 18 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Have a couple of these and figured it was still a hold. Nice notes and score. Might have to open one. Cheers!🥂
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Thanks @Somm David T , yes if you have a few certainly open one , but it’s best days are certainly a few years off ! Enjoy !

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2024

Wow. What a deep and complex story here. Very serious and austere, as usual. But this guy is gonna reveal so much interesting aroma with some evolution. — 2 months ago

Paul and Peter liked this

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 . — 2 months ago

Jeroen, Jan and 11 others liked this

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend

The 2006 was worth waiting for. Harlan is such an incredible@experience The earthy and softness of this wine yet so complex and incredible. Happy anniversary to my bride and celebrating 26 years together. — 10 days ago

Jan and Dave liked this
Dave Clinton

Dave Clinton

Congrats!

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

From a Napa vintage that I recall as being so-so, this wine shows the Howell Mountain terroir without the normally harsh tannins that were characteristic of Dunn HM wines in the 1980s. But, honestly, this is really lovely, suave, red fruited, with a medium-long finish, and seems way younger than I expected from a 37-year-old Napa Cabernet!! — a month ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, ESF and 9 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Medium garnet , medium garnet rim . Aromatic , and slightly funky nose , with herbal, cedar , sous bois , truffle . On the palate this is slightly strict , quite high acidity , slightly gritty tannin , mix of red and dark fruits , herbal tinges , tobacco and earthy finish . Quite linear and elegant . Perhaps slightly rustic , not particularly ambitious but classic ‘gentleman’s club’ claret. Though this is showing quite a lot of tertiary character it is still drinking well , drink now and over the next 5 or so years — a month ago

Tom, Jan and 13 others liked this
Dave Clinton

Dave Clinton

Sounds great!