Shay A

9.3

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Birth year Sauternes. Classic profile. Honey roasted cashews and orange marmalade aromatics. Rich and sweet notes of apricot and peach on the palate. Powerful yet not overbearing. I called this mid ‘90s Rieussec. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah. — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Mike Saviage

9.7

M’s bday dinner (3/12). Tasted blind. Light to medium gold color. Sweeter nose than the just tasted 92 Niellon Batard. Notes of lemon, citrus, some clove, white crushed stone and honey. Rich with fine grained acidity. Guessed 92 Leflaive Chevy. It’s not the first time I’ve guessed old Rav to be old Leflaive. The subtle but consistent acidity matched the exotic ripe fruit and minerality. My favorite white of the evening. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

This producer was new to me. Loved it! The nose has such dark fruit wrapped in smoked/chargrilled meats. Not overly savory and zero funk, but just a killer mesh of sweet and savory. Tobacco, graphite, cassis up front with a finish of blackberry pie, leather, and herbs de Provence. This could be a wonderful wine in 7-10yrs. I called this left bank 2012 vintage. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others

Shay A

9.2

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

This had a sense of familiarity to it. It reminds me of a lighter version of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve. Similar notes of baked key lime pie and toasted oak on the nose, but the palate showed less honey/nougat. Maybe more limestone. Very solid. I called it NV French champagne. — 6 years ago

with Jeff, Will and 3 others

Shay A

9.4

Today was my annual hosting of the Wednesday Wine Committee. There was 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert, all provided by me. Tasted blind, as always.

Birth year Sauternes. Drinking just like you’d expect a 31yr old Sauternes to be drinking, and maybe even slightly younger. Basically perfect provenance, the color has really darkened over the last 2-3yrs. Amber in the glass and molasses like up front. This checks all the boxes for Classic Sauternes. Honeyed sweet fruits with ripened pineapple, golden peach and nectarine with a touch of savory/nutty notes on the finish. Very lengthy finish with tons of complexity and life left. Wish I had another 1-2 bottles! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.3

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

I had this about 2yrs ago and my impression is consistent. Dusty and herbal. More tobacco leaf than leather notes. Dark black cherries, dark cocoa dipped cherries, cedar and truffle dusted licorice. This may be in a sleepy phase and could come out the other side full steam and youthful. Would like to try again and focus on only it. I called this early ‘00s left bank Bordeaux. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

9.1

A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Nice to revisit this from earlier in the year. Out of the flight, I found this to be the most aged. Integrated. Dusty and underripe black cherries on the nose with herbs. Cherry pipe tobacco, bayleaf and leather on the palate with a fading structure. Drink up. I guessed early ‘90s left bank Bordeaux. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Shay A

9.4

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The first of four Colgin’s served blind. Youthful notes abound here. More herbal on the nose when compared to the more fruit driven palate. Mostly a mix of black cherries, pomegranate, rhubarb tart and black pepper spice at the finish. I went back and forth with my guesses from Grenache, to pinot, to Syrah and couldn’t land on one. Delicious right now. — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Shay A

9.4

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

Always such a big fan of these. It’s light and nimble while remaining viscous and powerful. Honeyed orange blossom, roasted and caramelized cashews and lemon oil. Acidity down the middle of the palate accompanies honeysuckle and graham cracker. I called this mid-‘00s Sauternes. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others

Ron Siegel

9.1

3 decades served blind where most of the group guessed Pinot grape & thought it could be from Burgundy. Groups favorite was the 89. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Monthly WTF wine group meet up. This month is new world vs old world Rhône’s. All wines tasted blind. 3 flights.

Drinking really nice right now. Black peppercorn spice, roasted dark red and black fruits, and some smoked meat. Didn’t pick up a lot of iron. Smooth. Good acidity and tannin. Thanks @Bill Makens — 7 years ago

with Michael, Jack and 2 others

Shay A

9.4

Another visit to the weekly Wednesday Wine Committee, and a wonderful hosting by Glenn. As always, all wines are tasted blind. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert.

Young and powerful! To me, this balanced the rich and ripe fruit with the herbal and savory notes of black pepper/spice. Fruit was very fresh and flavor packed up front, but the mid palate and finish showed great peppercorn notes. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Shay A

9.2

A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Enjoyable and drank younger than its age. I always get a cherry swisher sweets note with St Estephe wines. Very tart black cherries, currant, tart plum and herbs all over this wine. Tannins still holding up nicely. Not getting better, but will probably hold for a bit. I guessed mid-‘90s left bank Bordeaux. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Shay A

9.3

A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

One of the better Kistlers I’ve had. Green tinged in the glass with gorgeous notes of keylime pie and crust, lemon cream, and honeysuckle. Rich and powerful on the palate...more so than most Kistlers I’ve had. Soft and round profile. Finish has a savory sea salt note. Very nice. I guessed young Kistler Chardonnay. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Shay A

9.4

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Served blind. Great job Dan!

This, and the second white, were very similar. Main difference here was there was more power and texture. This showed more toasted oak, Mexican vanilla, lanolin and slightly more heat on the finish. Drinking really well, but no rush. I called this 2014 Sonoma chardonnay. — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Shay A

9.2

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

Out of the four reds, this changed the most in the glass. Very floral and pretty. Sweetness tobacco, black cherries, and an herbal finish. Potpourri too. I called this right bank post 2010 vintage. Youthful for sure. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others

Shay A

9.2

Another killer Wednesday Wine Committee lineup. As always, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

New producer to me. And I don’t think I recall seeing “old vine” champagne before, and it being vintage even. I called this older NV French champagne...it had sweet toast on the nose with nougat, but the palate was more refreshing with limestone, chalk and a touch of stone fruit. I’d like to taste one of these younger to get a feel for style. Quite nice. — 6 years ago

with Ryan, Will and 1 other

Radmila wollrab

9.0

Blind testing with 3 other cabs (Caymus was in the group) and this one was the favorite. Just enough structure and acidity and amazing for the price. — 7 years ago

Jason Jones

9.4

Young but nice after a 6 hour decant. Seems ageless. Served blind and most people thought it was 3-5 years old. — 7 years ago

with Erin