A. Toraño Wines

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2007

A day 2 tasting. Slightly stewed fruit that reminded me for just a moment of some liquor and white pepper. — a month ago

Ira, Neil and 2 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2015

Has a nice deep fragrance cherry, chocolate and leather and balsamic!
Has rich flavor of spice, dark cherries, and dark chocolates. Spice lingers on the palate, but remains smooth.
— a month ago

Boris EpsteinRenny Cabreros
with Boris and Renny
Sagee, Joel and 6 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2007

From mag. Bright and zesty with vivid lemon fruit and a touch of sweetness. Great acid. Fresh and delicious — 2 months ago

BOT Jean-Francois PelletierPaul Woolls
with BOT, Jean-Francois and 2 others
LM, Iwan and 10 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Like a lot of the older SO this Alexander Valley didn’t last long. Opened to lots of bright fruits but died quickly. — 2 months ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Shay and 4 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2019 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherries, red roses, tangerine, pomegranate, talcum powder, dried sage, truffle, and dried stony earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. A lovely expression of 2019 Barbaresco. Drink now with patience and through 2049. — 3 months ago

David, Martin and 17 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Wonderfully balanced wine; deep ruby in color, dark fruit and cedar notes on the palette and perfectly integrated tannins (after 1-2 hours to open!). Moderate acidity with a long fruit-centered finish. This wine is in its prime! — 3 months ago

jesus, Andrew and 9 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Blend

David T
9.3

My go to N/V Rosé. Haven’t had in sometime…been on Blanc kick.

Paired w/ a plum/pear tart topped off w/ pistachios from the Adorable French Bakery.
— 4 months ago

Shay, Scott@Mister and 13 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2007

Finally had my a-ha moment with this wine (after opening a 16 too early). 07 was just beautiful - kept growing in stature over the 3 hour meal. Drank in Venice to celebrate our anniversary. — 5 months ago

Eric, Joe and 8 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago

Thomas and Ken liked this

Folie à Deux

Ménage a Trois California Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

My old chap cried a single tear of gooey joy drinking this beauty. — 5 years ago

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2014

This Pinot is one of the best I've had. It surprised me with a fuller body that your typical Pinot, almost like a Cabernet! — 9 years ago

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

I never would have anticipated drinking my birth year of Cheval Blanc out of a Solo cup yet, here we are. The ‘81 is ruddy still; deep garnet color with some browning towards the rim and loads of sediment. The nose shows some of the telltale green-ness of vintage but everything has found harmony: the fruit has blossomed and structure has integrated. Dark fruited with tobacco, dried purple flowers, mushrooms, herbs and soft eastern spices. Charming! No particular rush to drink these but lovely now. — a month ago

Douglas, Andrew and 17 others liked this
Peter Sultan

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Are you following the script of Sideways?@Jay Kline
Jay Kline

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@Peter van den Besselaar lol, because it’s all we had with us!
Jay Kline

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@Peter Sultan definitely has to channel my inner Miles

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Drinking well. Lovely nose of crushed rose petals and a hint of grilled meat and scintilla of tobacco. A touch dry on the palate but otherwise smooth and a nice long lasting finish — 2 months ago

David Stein
with David
LM liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2016

I think I preferred the 2015 but ever so slightly and as much as I struggle to believe glasses make a difference they poured the 2016 in a big cab glass and I think that distracted from the flavors that were evident in the tighter 2015 glass. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 4 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1976

Very elegant and distinguished. Bold but no rough edges. Organic bark and wet forest floor. Soft graphite and pencil lead. Smooth finish - a little Smokey. — 2 months ago

Ira and Ericsson liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2001

Beautiful wine. Slightly prefer the 1999, which I had last night. The ‘99 was musty and tasted lots of mushrooms. The ‘01 is still earthy, but fruitier. Dark fruits, with a bit of tobacco and cedar. — 3 months ago

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1990

a near perfect bottle—slightly oxidative, creamy, nutty, layered with lovely texture. — 3 months ago

Severn, Jan and 6 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2005

Opened and poured into a decanter about four hours prior to service. The 2005 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. One the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, cool spices, leather, licorice, and espresso. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, tart and sapid. A wine of pedigree and yet, has a rusticity that gives a nod to its origin. Drink now through 2035+? — 4 months ago

Andrew, Raun and 13 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2010

what a nose 👃🏽…!! 93+ — 5 months ago

Ivor, Dick and 4 others liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2014

Broke out one of my cellared Raffaults for my homeboy who graced me with a home cooked Tuscan styled flank steak w rosemary & arugula, as well as Israeli cous cous w chickpeas, charred tomatoes, feta, & herbs. Light Cadmium red hued & strong color though ( good cork- not a guarantee w Raffault!); dense Hibiscus, fresh raspberry & some bramble on nose; on palate very clean & smooth mouthfeel, with the initial flavors repeated but a deeper blend of red fruits & a stronger presence of under brush. Super fresh & integrated. Elegant, & the Burgundy echo was hard to ignore. Not Uber complex but not monolithic either, which this line of Raffault can be in its youth ( or as it ages). Very impressive, & accessible now. Curious how my ‘02 & 07s will fare… — 7 months ago

Owen Mazon
with Owen
Ira, Pinotman and 8 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

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@Peter Sultan I am always surprised this is not on more restaurant wine-lists given the price to quality ratio.
Peter Sultan

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I have no evidence other than anecdotal but I suspect bottle variability- both from my experience and from what wine stores have told me. I imagine too it’s a tricky wine to sell given it can really shut down for periods. But all guesses @Ira Schwartz …..

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Amongst the second growths, the wine of the night (still can’t top the Lafite Rothschild). Really singing. The last glass, poured from another bottle, was less dynamic. I’ve had a good bit of 1989 Gruaud Larose in the last several years, and it is a great wine in this vintage. — a month ago

Ira liked this
Ira Schwartz

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@Robert Torretti Heads up, incorrect vintage

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2020

Yes, this is liquid luxury, on a pnp, young, and off vintage (fires). Can’t wait to try one with some years on it. — a month ago

Vanessa, Ira and 22 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

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I don’t think Ridge has off vintages
Ericsson

Ericsson

Right. Should have wrote “fires vintage.” I was explained the blind block selection process, and truly impressed.

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A win to celebrate 🎉 Zac and Pascale’s wedding. Outstanding ♥️ — 2 months ago

Andrew, "Odedi" and 2 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2012

Dang, this high alcohol ripe fruit wine has really held up in the decade since bottling. The nose is subdued in terms of fruitiness compared to younger wines yet the layers of rich black fruit leather and spice come through as the wine opens up. Suggest opening and enjoying soon. — 3 months ago

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pinot at a wine bar with Ryan and Colby in Livermore — 3 months ago

LaShondra liked this

Apothic

Winemaker's Blend California Zinfandel Blend

I live this! This is my favourite sip and socialise wine. Probably not for pairing with a meal more for dessert as it is lovely and sweet. Pairs nice with I icecream or cheesecake. — 4 months ago

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Usually not a fan of this winery but this was excellent — 5 months ago

Shay, Ted and 8 others liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Nice for a steak dinner at a restaurant for a reasonable price. Pop and pour Zinfandel blend. Deep color, fruit and spice aroma. Palate is heavily red Zinfandel with dark berries, plum, and spice - pepper with a hint of nutmeg and vanilla. Balanced tannins and acidity. Short but pleasant finish. — 5 months ago

Thomas liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Paul J
9.3

1hr decant but probably could have PnP’d. Nice dark red color. Some cedar and dark cherries on the nose. Easy to drink. Nothing remarkable or off putting, just a solid wine. Fades pretty quick with medium depth and finish. — 9 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
John, Tom and 12 others liked this