Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Cena xon carlos gaytan y david wolf con los winegeeks el@paso jrz — 6 months ago

David Koenen

9.4

The years have been kind. Solid and superb. A true treat to be able to taste this beauty again. Thanks so much J! — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.6

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

And the hits just keep coming. A total monster. I found this to be the most extracted of the 5 reds. Could smell it five feet away. Dark chocolate dipped blueberries and blackberries, graham cracker, mocha, violets all jump from the glass. Velvet like texture revealing a streak of ripe red fruits and an herbal/mineral like note down the middle of the palate. Dusty. So much beautiful freshness but commanding power here...longest finish of the day. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab (specifically Shafer Hillside Select). — 5 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — 2 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.0

I think this could benefit from a year or two in bottle at the moment. A little primary but the stuffing is there for it to develop into something much better. — 4 years ago

Tom Wildenhaus

8.9

Don’t let this score away you. This is a wonderful wine. Very well balanced, tons of complexity and down right nice to drink. I called it wrong in a blind tasting but was so glad to be able to finish the glass. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

This felt like it was just starting to hit its drinking window. Very pretty and aromatic. Potpourri, lavender, dusted dark cocoa bits, plum and savory smoke on the nose with underripe blackberries, baking spices and nutmeg. Lovely. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 2 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.2

Post event photo dump to rate a few favorites.
This had the highest concentration of bubbles in any champagne that I have tried. New oak Chardonnay is added following second fermentation. Very interesting - good, but not worth the price IMO. — 4 years ago

Matthew Mountford

10

Pretty good. Got me drunk. — 5 years ago