After The Clouds

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 22 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend

Graceful as a ballet dancer—heady notes of yeasty and nutty roundness (think morning fresh baked bagel with almond and hazelnut) punctuated by the staccato of gently sour citrus (lemon, lime, citron, yuzu), balanced by minerals and delightful fizz. Drinks much younger than it is, so if you are lucky enough to have more of this ambrosia there’s no rush to empty out your cellar (20 is the new 10, as the Boomers would say). Enjoyed this gem at Hayato Restaurant in LA (best Kaiseki I’ve ever experienced) with my daughter Rachel and her friend Lindsay right after they finished taking the California Bar Exam. Best of luck, girls! — 9 months ago

Ira liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Not sure I’ve had any other 2006 Bordeaux but decided to pull this to give it a go at nearly 20 years of age. Nice wine but perhaps not one that justifies the price point. At first quite tight, but after a 5 hour decant this really comes into its own. Lots of leather and dark blue and black fruit. Oak is really only apparent in structure now. Great acid. 13% which is nicely balanced. — 10 months ago

Severn, Andrew and 15 others liked this
Severn G

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Oh yeah! Our favorite S-J producer ❤️
Jay Kline

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@Severn G That’s a big statement!

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2003

2003. Last bottle was 3 years ago, and this one I liked better. Starts out austere with evidence of a difficult hot year. But after hours in the decanter it cycled thru some almost port like caramelized tapenades and ended the evening with a somewhat strange but delicious red crème brûlée thing. So if you have one… I suggest patience thru the awkward opening hours to get to the awkward good part. Cheers. — 4 years ago

Jason, Andrew and 11 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

Like the sippy cup! 🥤 Cheers!

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2003

Less funk than a typical Musar after a 2 hour decant. The mouthfeel is gorgeous with extremely soft tannins and just enough acidity. Orange peel, cherry, gravel and baked apple. Odd and delicious. — 6 years ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1992

At first i picked up a lot of acetyl in this relative to the other wines. After an hour that had blown off and this blossomed. Everything you hope for in Monte Bello. — 9 years ago

Shay, Bill and 1 other liked this

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

58% CS, 33% M, 6% PV, 3% CF
Slightly bricked garnet red, compact rim, more red than purple.

Pretty bouquet - red cherry, dried herbal aromas, leather, tobacco, mineral.

The palate is harmonious. Integrated tannin, med plus acidity, dry, medium bodied. Showing a lot of red fruit character, animalistic, floral. Very classic Margaux-esque character.

This wine is at the perfect drinking spot. No need at all to wait. After a solid month of full bodied, extracted Napa Cab, this is a welcome reprieve! 90.
— 9 years ago

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

For a 2014 this surprised me. Really nice light tannins with beautiful red fruits and mild tartness. After a quick decant this opens nicely and will age quite well. — 10 years ago

P liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Charles (Chad) Bucklin
9.6

Fish sauce and crazy amounts of umami dominated the first minute or two. After that the wine became beautifully layered and elegant. — 11 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1986

Crisp cranberry emerges after a few hours. Light acidity surrounds eucalyptus appeal. Oak tannins balanced and refined. Subtleties develop luscious progression. — 11 years ago

Yianni, Michael and 3 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Opened and decanted for 2 hours before dinner and then really only opened up and truly hit expectations around the 3rd hour when paired with wagyu strip steaks.

This wine was savory tightly wound and tannic at first. Didn’t show much fruit until after the long decant and then it really changed.

With time, the fruits shown through with great complexity and great balance for the savory elements.
— 7 months ago

Bob, "Odedi" and 9 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 9 months ago

Ira, Ted and 9 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 1995

Garnet core , wide terracotta rim . Quite aromatic with sous bois , floral hints , spiced dried cherry, iodine , earth and leather . On the palate this has high acidity , fine tannins , orange rind , wet earth, sous bois , dried cherry . Good length . Ready drink now and over the next 5 years , just starting to run out of steam after a couple of hours . Elegant and refined in style — a year ago

Dave, Jeroen and 11 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1979

Classic Lafite. Hard to put into words. It was delicate yet still powerful. I’ve had the wine in my cellar since a year or so after release. We were stunned at how well it had aged…45?years old and still retained its fruit. It was worth the wait — 2 years ago

Herman Story

After Hours Rosé of Grenache 2019

Medium pink; medium plus intensity aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberry, red currant, mushroom, forest floor, limestone mineral; dry, medium acid, high alcohol, full body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; long finish, ripe red fruit and funky earthy perfume fills palate, big wine but well balanced, outstanding — 6 years ago

Severn, Iwan and 7 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2004

Leathery and red floral nose. After 1 hour decant, opulent, lightly spiced and earthy-red palate infused with dried mushrooms, iron and throughout with notes of garrigue. Punching way above its weight in a meh vintage...just entering a window that will last 10+ years. — 8 years ago

Shay, Matt and 48 others liked this
Shawn R

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Nice pull!
Joe

Joe

Got a few...
Joe

Joe

Will share

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 10 years ago

Cynthia LangstaffChris Langstaff
with Cynthia and Chris
Chris liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1992

Great cedar and cassis nose with a matching palate. Persistent without being boring. Earthiness coming out after an hour to balance chocolate covered berries. — 10 years ago

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1934

1934 vintage. Spectacular. Spicy, light, leathery finish with a hint of damp earth. Alive for about 10 minutes after opening. Intriguing wine. — 11 years ago

Justin, Anthony and 2 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Aran Healy
10

I don't think I can drink another Napa wine after this...wow. Absolutely brilliant. — 12 years ago

Anthony, The and 3 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. — 8 months 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!

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 9 months ago

Andrew, Juan and 4 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. Yes, the 2003 Dominus is big. However, it is also balanced and showing classic Napa typicity with beautifully ripe and some slightly wizened black and red fruit, tobacco, cocoa, some purple flowers and baking spices. I found this to be quite balanced after all the air it saw. Wonderful structure for continued aging as well. Drink now through 2043. — 2 years ago

Ira, Jan and 18 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

My second favorite after Ruinart. Lovely fine bubbles exuding citrus, orange marmalade, and just baked brioche. Delicious for brunch and Sunday football. — 6 years ago

Brian liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay

2017 Marcel Lapierre Morgon in the House!
Did you know that Morgon is the second largest Cru (group of vineyards) in Beaujolais after Brouilly?
Yea anyway.... This Full Bodied Gamay was dope🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Deep Garnet, Red fruit on the nose like cherry or pomegranate.
I get plum, & nectarine/peach.
Nice finish !
I’d give it around 91 points.
#morgon #beaujolais #frenchwine #gamay #france #france🇫🇷 #wine
#winetasting
— 7 years ago

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Velma had this 9 years ago

Chris, Jody and 28 others liked this
David From The 504

David From The 504

Cant have any complaints on that! Cheers
P A

P A

@Jeff Savigny Jeff good producer, good vintage, good wine. Cheers 🍷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Lady Luck visits!

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Very impressive. Wild mint aroma finds seamless balance in mid palate after pure Cabernet attack. Tannins rise subtly on palate and betray their youth only briefly at the resolution. — 10 years ago

Curtis liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1991

Drinking the 1991 in 2016 after over 2 hours of decanting. Wonderful light sherry type nose with a hint of pepper and quite brick red colour around the edges. Such a soft texture on the tongue though still a little astringency on the finish. Very good. — 11 years ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Pours clean dark purple into the glass showing no age. I'll be damned if one couldn't enjoy the dark fruit aroma from 5 feet away. Wow. Dark fruit, leather and pleasant oak quality supplemented with a silky tannic structure that gave a 60 sec finish. Not the most complex Latour I've enjoyed at this point but this bottle actually tightened up over an hour after opening indicating much life ahead. Sheeeit! — 11 years ago

Anthony and Lundmark liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Probably my most favorite! Not inexpensive at restaurants ($65-$76), but pairs so well with just about anything. Year after year it is consistently great. It's hard not to share it, but then you must keep multiple bottles in stock! — 12 years ago

Heidi McLain
with Heidi
The Prisoner liked this