Will De Graaf

The Mascot

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

This will be a day 2 wine. 1 glass today and it just has that day 2 feeling. — 11 days ago

Tom, Jeroen and 22 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2014

Medium light lemon straw colour , very fine constant bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral on the nose , with some light toasty notes , white flowers , lemon oil . Quite closed . On the palate this is really quite intense and mineral , oyster shell , chalky , limestone hints . Some lemon pith and a lightly toasty with a saline hint , fresh acidity , long and detailed , refined and very balanced . Really young still , needs time to open and will be long lived . Better in 5- 10 years and will last well a further 5-10 years — 21 days ago

Ira, Jan and 17 others liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2000

Ruby core still , quite wide garnet rim . Still quite young looking . This is quite exotic at first with some Asian spice , rose water , floral hints and after a while red cherries , red currant and blackberry . On the palate this has more of the darker fruits , dark cherry , blackberry with some spicy , wet slate and , lightly herbal , tobacco notes . Fresh acidity and fine but noticable tannins . Quite long and detailed , saline with spiced tea tinged finish . Quite reserved and understated but enough fruit and mid palate to cover the structure . This is drinking well now with time in the glass , and will continue at this level for another 10 years or so . So exotic and enticing on the nose , and with great poise and freshness on the palate, really great showing. — 21 days ago

Jan, Andrew and 7 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Holy cow what a night!
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Yes @Tom Casagrande , it was a really good showing overall , pleased when that happens . For most of the group it was their first time having Leflaive or DRC , so I was somewhat apprehensive given expectations etc …. DRCs showed so well , the Batard highlighted the difference between sound and not sound bottles with the comparison with the Pucelles, so all said and done it was a fascinating , educational not to mention delicious event…
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Nicely done. Treat!

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021

Bright medium ruby , quite thin violet rim . Quite discreet and fine, reserved on the nose . Red cherry , cassis , mineral tinged blackberry, after a while pomegranate. On the palate this is very detailed and precise , great freshness and with more red fruit, cherry , red plum , blackberry , wet slate , saline oyster shell with very fine tannins . Long mineral finish . Very young obviously but incredibly elegant and fresh . Will need time , this closed up quite a lot after time in the decanter . Better in 10 -15 years , will last well a further 10-15 . Incredibly promising . — a month ago

Tom, Vino and 16 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Wow! 👀
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Andrew Cullimore You’ve certainly had many of the Tuscan stars Andrew.

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Sweet dark plum aromas and flavors, this wine still shows nice structure and has many more years ahead before it reaches maturity, long, lingering finish, excellent Bordeaux that will likely longer than me!! — 13 days ago

Monique Jim Powers
with Monique and Jim
Dave, Kland and 7 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Depends how slow you drink it

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020


Deep opaque core, thin ruby rim. Deep slightly spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , charcoal embers , grafite . On the palate this is quite intense but has good freshness , and ripe but firm , quite dry tannins . Creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , crushed rocks , quite saline and fresh in style , oyster shell and sea breeze hints . Well balanced alcohol and good length grafite , saline tinged finish . This is actually quite enjoyable , though obviously way too young , fresh and detailed with cool fresh dark fruit and grafite nuance. Better in 10 years and will last well a further 10-15 maybe more . Really enjoyed the style and balance of this .
— 19 days ago

Tom, Tom and 22 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

My first Bordeaux producer love back in the day. Still great.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

One of mine too @Somm David T , had a few vintages quite recently , all have shown really well

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Doesn't show much age.

Beautiful nose with red and black fruits, chocolates, tobacco leaf, vegetables, forest floor, black tea, earth, coffee, herbs, spices, black pepper and wildflowers.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, currants, oak, light chocolates, coffee, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs and spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a gorgeous 24 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Saint Julien. Rich and elegant. Spicy and very complex. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that is so much fun to drink by itself.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (33% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150.
— 23 days ago

Dave, Ira and 13 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Nice pull @"Odedi"!!
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Very nice!

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

2 hour decant(little fine sediment). A splendid dark magenta with some bricking. On the nose: subdued but enticing notes of blackberry, cassis, cigar wrapper, clove, pine, maybe a touch of brett. Taste: silky, still youthful at 20 wine with blackberry, red fruit, graphite, spice, and a medium smokey licorice tar finish. YUM..good but expecting more for the year..will wait a few years for next attempt. — 5 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Douglas and 15 others liked this
Rob Brobst III

Rob Brobst III Influencer Badge

@Tom Garland I have a small collection of 2005 Bordeaux. I might need to get a bottle this from ya!
Rob Brobst III

Rob Brobst III Influencer Badge

@Tom Garland and hold a private dinner to explore possibilities!!!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Rob Brobst III Sounds fun! Pick em carefully...as Andrew said, some drinking well, while others need more time even at age 20. Cheers!

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.3

Something for my Wagyu Burger.

I do enjoy this producers style/craft. Also, enjoy the elegance of St. Julien. 2012 is a vintage Sofia & 1 worked harvest at Clerc Milon. So, the 2012 vintage will always be a special vintage for me, even if it was only one that was good to very good for the right terroirs and producers. Just wasn’t special like; 00, 05, 09, 10, 16 or 19 etc..

Having said all that, this Ducru is not the 2012 star of the region. It’s elegant but falls short on depth, character & umpf, which are things I have grown to expect and have experienced from this producer in many vintages.

The palate shows, soft, round & velvety M-M+ tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some of both plums, slightly baked strawberries & circling raspberries. Slightly dry tobacco w/ ash, soft leather, sandalwood, mid, dark, rounded spice, nutmeg, clove, some cinnamon & vanillin, dark most earth with clay & dry leaves, herbaceous notes, very soft & elegant graphite, a touch of of mid berry cola/licorice, dark withering flowers, red roses, nice acidity with nicely balance, good tension/structured, elegant finish that last nearly two minutes and long sets on rounded dark spice.

@EmiratesLoungeDubai
— 9 days ago

Paul, Scott@Mister and 19 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Yes, amazing the Emirates lounges are an entire floor of all their terminals. Always a great experience. Cheers! 🥂
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

My first bottle of Musar was purchased in the Duty Free at DXB back in 2012. I think it was the 2001 or 2002 vintage.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Some of their prices aren’t bad.

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Deep, dense red-purple hue. licorice, toasty oak, and subtle mocha notes. Dark fruits like blackberry and plum are noticeable, but it's more restrained than overtly fruity.
full-bodied, with sultry dark fruits (black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, licorice, and spice. Can’t wait for at least another 5 years before I try this again. Didn’t feel too you but feels like it will be better with age.
— 21 days ago