Spell Wine
Hartwell Vineyards
Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Château Le Grand Faurie
Saint Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
2020 vintage. Investigating +-$20 red Bordeaux, part two. PNP. Some decent depth for the price. Medium body. Good concentration. A little, minty note amongst the chunk. Finish hangs in there for a spell. In this price range, would tap this again. 5.28.24. — a year ago
Domaine du Grand Tinel
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2012
2012 vintage. Smoky, spicy, plummy, earthy. Medium-heavy body. Quiet power and presence without flexing. Can't imagine this one getting better but can hold tight in this place for 7-8 years. 04.23.25. **edit** Picked up the last 4 cases available in San Diego County for an unbelievable price so we'll have it for a spell. 05.05.25. — a month ago
Stone Edge Farm
Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
2012 vintage. Medium body. Subdued nose with just some slightly tart, dark cherry afoot. Some frontal spice box married to that tart, dark cherry and a light muddiness (¿word?). Back end/finishing richness makes an appearance for a spell. Nicely made. Not overwhelming (nor underwhelming) for CA but should go forth and prosper for another 5-7 years at this level. 02.09.25. — 3 months ago
Domaine de l'Espigouette (Bernard Latour)
Gigondas Red Rhone Blend 2017
When I lived in Houston in the aughts, I drank a few fragrant Cotes Du Rhônes from this estate, so I was eager to try their Giggie, even though I’ve grown tired of Southern Rhônes as the climate has warmed and Phillipe Cambie seemingly put a spell over the majority of producers. Well, this is a bit better than the typical blocky, heavy wines that seem increasingly prevalent there. It’s densely colored (of course), but the nose has a bit more elegance and nuance than the typical Gigondas estate these days, showing fresh dark berry fruit, really interesting almost chaparral-like garrigue/earth notes, warm stones, and meadowy wildflowers. In the mouth it’s dense, but a little lighter than the new norm thank goodness, with nice savory flavors and decent acids. Tannins are soft. It won’t make me forget Giggies from the early ‘80s, but it’s nice. — 4 years ago
Spell Winery
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Just wow. I last had this in 2019 and my note said to wait 5 years. Glad I did. This is drinking so well. Currant, rhubarb, blackberry, crème de cassis, and cherry. Great mouthfeel. Acidity reminds me of old world but doesn’t have the earth. Wish I had more. This would be a knockout in 5 and 10 years from now. Let me know if you want to get rid of any! — 3 months ago
Argiano
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2018
2018 vintage. Last tasted 4.26.24 (9.3). Tasted alongside the 2019 vintage (9.4). This didn't suck. Medium-heavy bod. Nice nose but it was the back end complexities and fireworks that performed the magic here. Sure, you can age it for a spell and it'll jump through all the hoops. Drinking beautifully now and for the foreseeable future. 11.22.24. — 6 months ago
Danilo Thomain
Enfer D'Arvier Petit Rouge 2019
When in limbo, take a trip to the inferno (or Danilo Thomain’s enfer d’arvier). If this is hell, then I think I’ll settle in for a toasty spell. Crunchy pomegranate, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry (so much bramble!) and dried alpine herbs on the nose and palate. Dark stones. Volcanic spice. Vivacious, hypnotic. — 3 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
1999 vintage. This review a bit of a mixed bag. “Inherited” this bottle and had been looking sideways at it for the better part of three years. Fill decent but both the front and back labels pretty trashed. The foil up top a tad crimped in places. Ugly duckling syndrome. See a ton of this at work and occasionally able to resuscitate what appears to be an abused bottle. Cut off the foil and there was some seepage at the top trapped between the cork and the foil. Not good. Extracted the cork in three passes (3!!!) with the Durand. Cork was half saturated and dunzo. Did not decant. Color was on point at least. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.1% ABV. Less than expected sed. Poured out a fifth of a glass and let sit for 2-3 mins. Nose was big white pepper, roasted cashews and white sage…three notes that I don’t come across often over the years with Napa cabbage and flavors were hidden beneath for a spell. Gave it 15 minutes. That initial nose dissipated and a bit of magic unfolded. Light-medium body, cocoa powder, graphite, feminine, sumptuous milk chocolate, a little sweaty, dried legumes, spearmint, supremely resolved tannins. Echoes of Haut-Brion/La Mission Haut-Brion. This old-school, Stags Leap District Napa cab came through in the clutch. Seemed to gather strength the longer it was open. Given that this particular bottle was not exactly mint, more than a bit curious as to how a decently stored example of this wine would perform. Van the Man was right. Wild night is calling. Come on out and dance. 05.16.25. @Shay A — 6 days ago