The Big Five Collection
Porter Family Vineyards
Atlas Peak Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
#1000 at home, finally!
This is big, broad and bold. Hundred percent cab aged in seventy-five percent new French Oak. Limited production to just over two hundred cases.
Visibly the wine is a deep ruby color with a tight rim.
The nose is intense with dark fruit, cassis, coffee, dark chocolate, but also earthy humid forest aromas.
The mouthfeel is luxurious and enveloping with the perfectly ripe dark fruit, just a touch of dried spices, vanilla, oak, and a long savory earthy finish. The wine is dry, full bodied, ultra smooth with round but persistent tannings with medium plus alcohol and medium acidity.
Absolutely love wine… Cheers all! — 4 years ago
Peirano Estate Vineyards
The Heritage Collection Lodi Petite Sirah 2021
Rene Rostaing
La Landonne Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1995
Enjoyed at our friend’s on the Big Island for NYE dinner. Dark and opaque. Rich in the mouth. Notes of black fruit, slate stone, some menthol and some five spice. In a good window. — 3 years ago
Five Vintners
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
It was big but not as complex as earlier vintages. It has some more growth to come but tasting good early on. — 5 years ago
Domaine Saint Préfert
Collection Charles Giraud Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2007
Big, rich with more structure than the 2007 St. Prefert Reserve Auguste Favier. Deeper too. Outstanding CdP. — 5 years ago
Raymond Vineyard & Cellar
R Collection Lot No. 5 Field Blend 2010
A great blend of five grapes. Enjoyed with grilled chicken thighs and oven roasted mushrooms. Combo of berries and a hint of pepper. Smooth and stately finish. — 6 months ago
Rene Rostaing
Côte Blonde Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2019
2019 vintage. Big and brooding from being disturbed during hibernation. Medium-heavy body. Pretty nose and a smoking profile. Sexy in an earthy, grounded way. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins and 2 hours post-decant. Still super-tight but all the promise of pleasure is there for the long game/cellar. Focus and push for decades. Would like to revisit in five years. 7.30.23. — 3 years ago
The Hess Collection
Lion Tamer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
One of my now favorite cabs. Big, good tannins. Will buy another — 5 years ago
The Hess Collection
The Lion Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
This wine pairs perfectly with a ribeye especially right after you just ate a nice juicy piece. It’s a bit in the dry side but it has a big berry flavor with some, I think, espresso flavor when it’s still a bit cool. That changes over to a chocolate flavor on your cheeks but also seemed to slip away after it warmed up further. The berry flavor lingers in your mouth along with the dry finish so that’s nicer than most dry wines. Overall it has a lot of depth and is pretty fun to taste. Since it was $150 and a dry wine, I tended to rate it a bit down since I’m not into dry wines and probably better wines for less. I rate it a A-/B+ because of the above. — 5 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview:
A very limited-production Chardonnay sourced from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Built from cool-climate tension and precision, this 2020 vintage elevates the profile of the wine with greater depth, layered complexity, and remarkable balance while preserving the vibrant tropical-citrus core characteristic of the site.
Aromas & Flavors:
Intense yet refined aromas of lemon curd, tropical citrus, baked guava, white peach, and subtle lychee, intertwined with delicate white spices and hints of mandarin zest. The palate unfolds in layers with vibrant citrus energy, savory mineral nuances, and beautifully integrated oak.
Mouthfeel:
Exceptionally balanced and textured. Fresh acidity drives the wine from start to finish, while a striking tension on the back palate gives the wine precision and lift. Creamy without heaviness, polished without excess, finishing long, energetic, and remarkably composed.
Food Pairings:
Butter-poached lobster, scallops, roast chicken with herbs, creamy seafood pasta, miso-glazed cod, or aged Comté.
Verdict:
A serious and highly expressive Chardonnay that showcases how powerful and refined California Chardonnay can become in the right cool-climate hands. The 2020 clearly steps above the 2022 in complexity, texture, and overall precision while still maintaining the vibrant tropical freshness that defines the vineyard.
🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap’s cold Pacific winds naturally slow ripening and thicken grape skins, helping Chardonnays develop both concentrated flavor intensity and the kind of acidity-driven tension more commonly associated with top cool-climate regions. Cheers! — 14 days ago