The Black Bottle

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.6

I think if you read this nonsense I post, you know how I feel about this producer, past & present. This 07 is outstanding & top of its bell curve. It is so good to revisit these great vintages of Caymus Classic.

This is fresher than the 97. It is rich/lush, cassis to currents, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, classic, beautiful, Caymus Classic spice that I miss dearly in their new wines, black licorice, fudge, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, most top soil, limestone, dry herbs, dry tobacco, barrel shavings, taut leather, volcanic grey clay, dark, fresh & slightly withering flowers, violets, beautiful round acidity, balance, structure, nice tension and elegant finish that last minutes and falls on spice and evoluted earth tones.

This bottle is in fine shape. Still strong and will last another 10 years of fine drinking. Phenomenal vintage and time to enjoy.
— 8 days ago

Rob, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

This had lots of black fruits, sweet spice, leather, cedar & tobacco — 2 days ago

Jan, Andrew and 7 others liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Jan A
9.7

Great balance of all components, drinking very well right now. Impressive bottle — 25 days ago

Peter, Stef and 11 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

Getting ready to leave France, so let's go out with a bang! It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, black cherries, tobacco, cedar, light vegetables, licorice, chocolates, coffee and light peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, light vegetables, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Merlot based blend is still very young. In most vintages, it is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, but in the 2017 vintage it was a little different.

Spicy and entertaining. Well balanced and complex, but a little tight and restraint right now. Much earthier than I expected it to be.

Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

A good food wine right now, that will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (70% New) French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$450.
— 11 days ago

Dave, Jose and 21 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Drinking well with its black fruits, graphite, sweet spice, wet earth, & tobacco — 9 days ago

Jan, Andrew and 14 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2013

Always a pleasure and has an enjoyable luxury about it...this bottle was a bit muted though — 23 days ago

Daniel, Ted and 16 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Tobacco, black cherry, bramble, licorice, sun-dried tomatoes, inky, powerful tannins, there’s absolutely no rush to open the next bottle. — 10 days ago

Jan liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Mostly black fruits with plum, graphite, vanilla oak, spice, leather, & tobacco. — a day ago

Shay, Jeroen and 9 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

Medium ruby garnet quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite herbal , dried strawberry and red cherry nose , touch of iodine , sous bois , dried mushroom notes , discreet roasted coffee note after a while. Quite pretty red fruits on the palate with good freshness , strawberry , earthy cherry and a marine , iodine like note , sous bois underneath . Quite elegant and well balanced acidity with fine tannic grip . Good red fruit , earthy tinged finish . This is showing more advanced than the 2001 Reserva , and would like to try another bottle of this , as I suspect this half is a bit below par. On the basis of this bottle drink now and over the next 5 or so years . — 3 days ago

Tom, Shay and 4 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Dark and brooding. Tangy plum fruit, roses, blood and dried herbs, iodine. Very intense and serious. Blackcurrant and black pepper with plum and black cherry. Long and quality. — a month ago

Bex GreenMajor-General Sir William Biddles CurranDavid Schachter
with Bex, Major-General and 1 other
Mario, Shay and 12 others liked this