Top Source

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Mountain Top Vineyard Merlot 2000

Cedar, red licorice and ganache. — a month ago

Juan liked this

Heidsieck & Co.

Monopole Blue Top Brut Champagne Blend

Scratches that itch. Hard to tell whether it’s a “true champagne” or a very good cremant, but at closeout prices who cares? 90. — 2 months ago

Dawn, Rob and 3 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

2014 vintage. Light-medium body. Excellent cedar and tobacco notes floating amidst the soft tannin treatment. Verry harmonious currently. Maybe 2-3 years more before hitting the absolute top of the bell curve. Maybe. This vintage is rocking right now and arguably at its absolute zenith. So good. 8.8.24. — 3 months ago

Ruud, Jan and 15 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2016

Nice but not quite at the true top level, especially given the price. Decanted 4 hours which is necessary at this point. Nice pairing with a big T-bone steak cooked in the Tuscan style. Could use more acid on the finish. Probably needs a few years to come together. — 5 months ago

Severn, Tom and 3 others liked this

Odette

Estate Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

2021 vintage. So tasted alongside sister property Cade (and Plumpjack) Howell Mountain Cab. If I weren't so familiar with the Cade HM, woulda sworn this was mountain fruit. This is the leanest, dirtiest SLD effort I've ever had spanning a multiplicity of SLD producers since the 1986 vintage. It's got the underlying structure of Stags Leap District but none of the top layer of richness. It all got scraped off and you are just left with the steak-no sizzle. Comes courtesy of the old old Steltzer property (hadn't heard that winery name in decades and it was the durtiest in SLD!) and the new powers that be turbo-charged it and turned shizz up to 11. Fascinating and phenomenal. Light-medium body and has the color but packs an unexpected Barolo-styled punch. Not your average SLD bear. Watch out for Mr. Ringer...err...Ranger. 10.30.24. — 13 days ago

Jan, Ted and 16 others liked this

Evening Land Vineyards

La Source Seven Springs Pinot Noir 2019

Delectable Wine
9.4

A smoky blend of crushed raspberries, sage, cola and crushed stones creates a seductive bouquet as the 2019 Pinot Noir La Source comes to life in the glass. This is soft yet lifted in feel, with tart red and blue fruits that swirl throughout as violet inner florals resonate toward the close. The 2019 finishes perfumed and long with an air of lavender and a tart blackberry twang that lingers over a bed of well-rounded tannins. This is the first vintage in which Sashi Moorman was entirely happy with the structural balance achieved in the Pinot Noir La Source. I must admit, it's a compelling wine. (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2024)
— 3 months ago

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1971

1971 vintage. Top shoulder fill. Used a Durand but fully saturated cork still required some clean up on aisle 7. Decanted and tasted after 5 minutes. Threw much much less sediment than expected. Decent color with a little browning. Tertiary nose gave way to similar flavors with it being very slightly brickish. In a holding steady phase where there is no shining light to chase after-everything is consolidated and filed away so you're tasting the interpretations of history. Instructive. 6.13.24. — 5 months ago

Lyle, "Odedi" and 14 others liked this

Sobon Estate

Rocky Top Zinfandel

Jammy with structure — a month ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

An enjoyable vintage, even if it’s not a top vintage, it still portrays typical P-C. Always enjoyable. Drinking very well with just a short decant. — a month ago

LM liked this

Green & Red Vineyards

Tip Top Vineyard Zinfandel 2017

Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2017 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe black and red fruits: brambles, plums, cherry lozenges, black pepper, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This worked really well with a variety of grilled fare though I suspect a few more years in the cellar would help add some complexity. Drink now with patience through 2032. — 4 months ago

Vanessa, John and 6 others liked this
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

Great wines.