The Tower Of London

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay

Delightfully complicated California Chard masquerading as a White Burgundy. French nose and French finish. Minerals, flint, stone and fruit—apple, pear, peach and nectarine, with an obvious but restrained layer of oak. Not overly fruity or oaky; no pineapple or butterscotch here. Paired well with the Seafood Tower, Swordfish and Black Cod at the Water Grill Santa Monica. This was a juvenile 2021 vintage, tasted in 2024. Eager to try this gem after another half decade. — a month ago

Neal Family Vineyards

Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Paul J
9.5

This was great! Reminded me of all those great Bordeaux’s we had while in London. 1hr+ decant. Purple color with maroon tones. Dominated by cedar on the nose and palate. Medium plus depth and finish, which had some olives/CDP on it. Well integrated tannins with a nice sweetness. — 3 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Severn, Tom and 4 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Underrated producer.

Tenuta di Fessina

Musmeci Nerello Mascalese 2015

Pale crimson in colour. An earthy, horsey, ultra savoury nose. A light to medium weight savoury palate with dried cherry, earthy mineral flavours and light Sandy tannins. I really loved this Etna Rosso which we picked from the all Italian Wine List at the River Cafe London. Went well with a lovely fresh piece of Turbot. — 2 years ago

Anthony, Jan and 21 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Delectable Wine
9.3

The bottle of 2014 Pontet-Canet showed better than the previous one at the 10-Year-On tasting in London. This offers much more restraint on the nose. It's quite precise, with greater mineralité seeping through the black cherry and cassis fruit. The palate has a sorbet-fresh entry, fine tannins and a silky sheen. The oak is fully subsumed after a decade, plus there is a little more depth on the finish compared to previous showings. This is a fine example of the vintage, and bottles should drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Pontet-Canet dinner in Washington DC. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 24 days ago

Château Duhart Milon

Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Blend 2005

Delectable Wine
9.0

The 2005 Duhart-Milon is a bit of a beast. Displays quite a dense, unforgiving pencil lead and tobacco-scented nose, and the fruit seems to take a back seat at the moment. The palate is well-balanced but undeniably brawny and rough-hewn, the kind of Pauillac you wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley at midnight. This is a bit hard going at the moment. This was an ex-château bottle served at Maison François in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2023) — a year ago

Vijay, Ron and 1 other liked this

Domaine de Chassorney

Bedeau Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Planque in London. Pretty nose with hint of dried roses. Raspberry on the palate with some potpourri flavours. Quite precise and proper. — 2 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2001

Paul J
9.7

Our last bottle in London before we move back! Thank you to my team for the awesome gift!

1hr+ decant. Red color with brownish orange edges. Nose contains cedar, graphite, and green elements. Complex wine that has a nice balance of tannins and depth. Very lively and probably at the perfect drinking age. Long finish. Definitely a top echelon wine!
— 3 years ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Rob and 16 others liked this
Michael Walker

Michael Walker

Going out in style

Domaine Naturaliste

Morus Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

See previous Delectable note. Very dark Ruby in colour - opaque. A beautiful fragrant black fruited nose of mulberry, cassis and dried herbs. It’s nice to vary our producers from Margaret River and this is one that one doesn’t often see. This was most impressive - full bodied palate showing blackberry, eucalypt, bay leaf, capsicum, plum - in fact all of the Cabernet descriptors. Graphite texture with velvety tannins. This is from the southern end of Margs near the likes of Cape Mentelle and Voyager Estate. To repeat the previous note this won a major Trophy in London for best Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River. This could cellar for at least another 5 years. — a month ago

Ira, Anthony and 17 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Agreed Byron. Did you visit on your recent trip?
Byron Hewett

Byron Hewett Premium Badge

Yes. First stop out of 10 visits.

Château Lagrezette

Château Lagrezette Cahors Malbec Blend 2010

Almost pitch black in colour - very dense. Barb said Liquorice and Dark Chocolate - also lashings of blackberry. Extremely rich, concentrated fruit. Possibly the richest most full bodied French dry red I’ve ever had. Interesting to compare with the Catena Zapata Malbec a week ago. The Argentinian Malbec coming from high country was more elegant. I must try more Malbec from Cahors. Made for a BBQ Steak. A silky palate finishing with very dry tannins. Bought at Hedonism in Mayfair London several years ago. I have never seen this producer available in Australia. — 2 years ago

Tom, Eric and 20 others liked this
Jamie Lauder

Jamie Lauder

Bob ….please Google Cahors and Cassoulet.
This will give ideas.
Roasted low and slow many hours will be perfect with French Malbec.
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Thanks for the tip Jamie.

Hubert Lamy

Le Concis du Champs Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay 2018

Wha wha weeee waaah. Teleportation straight back to burgundy - escargot under the clock tower, lunch on a bike ride of the country. Beast. Doesn’t get much better. — 3 years ago

Daniel P., Ceccherini and 4 others liked this