Azienda Agricola A Scià

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1982

Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1982 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a mix of tart, ripe and dried, mostly black fruits: cassis, blackberries, tobacco, dried flowers, grilled Poblano, leather, dry gravelly earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. One of the earliest vintages of Opus One, this is showing really well at the moment. Drink now through 2042. — 21 days ago

Scott@Mister, Dave and 16 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2006

Has a little brown toast note that is distinctive. Overall very nice and worthy of a graduation celebration. — a month ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Early to open this, but blossomed after a good decant. From 375ml. — a month ago

Tom liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Plush and red cherry. Floral notes and a hint of pepper. Great stuff. — 2 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Shay, Jay and 8 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Deborah and 18 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Another tip: I keep a bottle in the fridge to pour decanted sediment dregs into, and use it (except for the muddy bottom part) for cooking. That way my coq au vin or daube is braising in really good stuff from my cellar!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Tom C, good notes. Thanks for the tips. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x x I find the sediments can be bitter and usually try to remove them so they don't impact the wine. Hate them all over the side of the glass. Cheers!

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.5

It is really no surprise that this 05 is incredible and yet still extremely youthful. This 05 will out live almost anyone 50 years old. It is good for another 45 years.

I had their 16 La Dame last weekend & commented it should not be opened for another 10 years.

The core on the nose is dark velvet black currants. There’s a bit of melted dark chocolate-mousse. Ripe but subtle blackberries, black raspberries, black plum-plum pudding, very dark cherries, some mulberries, mocha powder, dark, rich earth, dry river stone, limestone, anise, mix of dry/fresh herbs, fine, undertone of baking spices, moist grey clay, slightly dry tobacco, sandalwood, mild, elegant spice, just the slightest hint of mint, very, slightly candied, dark, withering flowers & red roses.

The palate is rich, round with velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark fruits blended in melted dark-mocha chocolate. Blackberries, black raspberries, both plums w/ heavy skin, dark cherries, poached to slightly baked strawberries & raspberries over the top. Dry bay leaf-sage, moist clay, rich, dark, turned earth, dry river stone, limestone powder, stem inclusion, red licorice/cola, anise to black licorice candy, sandalwood to soft cedar, slightly moist tobacco, used leather, mild, dark spice, a touch & just a touch of tomato leaf, hints of cardamom, dark/red withering flowers with just a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a very well knitted, tensioned, balanced, structured, elegantly polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on nice earthiness & softly muddled spice.

Paired w/ their bone-in Ribeye. Best steakhouse steak that I’ve had out and not made by friends and or myself. Rich fat, tender and nice flavor. Lacks a bit of char and Napa Valley Rub from wholespice.com.

Open in another 15-20 years.

A real shot at a 💯 in another 15-20+.

@Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas
— 2 months ago

Peter, Paul and 23 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

The Montrose stuff is a true force of nature. That'90 vintage will outlive us all combined. Ridiculously fresh once you get past the brett.

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Such a solid rich and elegant wine. Paired with squab. Velvet and deep purple fruits — 3 months ago

Dave liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Silky silky smooth...so well made. Still young but very enjoyable. Has a long future ahead — 4 months ago

Bob, Ted and 10 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

Wow. You are on a roll!
Andrew McIntyre

Andrew McIntyre

@Jan de Weerd was a good night! Sore heads the next day though 😵‍💫

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1998

Special birthday gift from a generous friend. This 375 is 🔥 with cola, cherry, sous bois, no alc showing on the energetic finish. Wow. — 6 months ago

Joey, Daniel and 10 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 — 16 days ago

Dave, Jeroen and 11 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2022

Popped and poured from magnum; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2022 pours a deep ruby/purple with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart red and dark fruits: Bing cherry, pomegranate, licorice, dried green herbs and rocky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A young Côte du Py, especially in this format. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — a month ago

Lyle, Peter and 12 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Great still needs a lot more time — a month ago

Kayla Rebeca Campbell
with Kayla
Jan liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Started out shaky but rose to an eclectic dinner. Wine after decanting had the right tannins and a dried cherry linger that worked well on my palate. — 2 months ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Château Latour is an iconic estate in the Pauillac commune on the left bank of Bordeaux, achieving coveted ‘First Growth’ status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

The estate has roots dating back to the 14th century and derives its name ‘La Tour’ from a fortress tower built during the Hundred Years’ War, which no longer exists but is prominently featured on the label in recognition of its history.

We weren’t sure what to expect, as many have predicted these 1983s are likely past their prime, but this wine was a masterpiece. 🤩

It was medium garnet in color with expressive notes of cedar box, cigar, clove, peat, leather, forest floor, fig, prune, dried black cherry, plum, cassis, blackberry compote, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, dried violet, potpourri, kalamata olive, pencil shavings, graphite, & bacon fat.

It had the most velvety, fine-grained tannins that washed across the palate with ease, with a gentle but notable acidity that maintained lift and balance. It was concentrated, complex, and had a long, elegant finish.
— 2 months ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Ted and 18 others liked this
Paul K

Paul K

Happy Birthday @Vanessa way to celebrate in style!
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Paul K Thank you for the bday wishes! It was an auspicious and delicious way to start my next trip around the sun ☀️ Cheers! And we hope to reconnect with you guys soon! 🍾🥂
Paul K

Paul K

We will absolutely figure out something this summer!!!

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Meaty and intense. Lush with violets, a deep purity and smoothly intense. Really great stuff. A little more powerful than the 82 alongside but a whisper less refined — 3 months ago

Walker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Walker and David
Ceccherini, Tom and 12 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2024

This is always a beautiful. At this stage it’s quite complex to understand. But it’s clear that with the time it’ll turn onto a special wine. — 3 months ago

Paul liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Vivid pinkish-salmon hue with a fine stream of bubbles. Notes of strawberry, citrus peel, green apple, and brioche. Crisp acidity, a creamy mousse, and perfectly balanced dosage. Refreshing, elegant, and succulent, with a long, zesty finish. — 6 months ago

jesus liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2014

the last of my 2014 stash and it’s a real beauty. 🤩. paired with linguine with mushrooms onions and garlic olive oil. perfect drinking window 👊 — 4 months ago

Douglas, David and 6 others liked this

Apothic

Winemaker's Blend California Zinfandel Blend 2013

I asked for a jammy red and that’s what this is !! Not super into these “commercialized” wines, but it does the job for easy drinking. Yum — 5 months ago

Serge liked this

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

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2012

This is spectacular. That roughness that is characteristic of Rioja is prominent but exists alongside a beautifully dry, luscious dark cherry 🍒 and oak flavour. And even with all its complexity, it’s a nice sipper too. — a month ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Doug, Ron and 1 other liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart mixed fruit: Blackberries, black cherry, dill, olives, leather, toasted coconut, some vanilla, dried green herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is in a very lovely place. Drink now through 2044.  — a month ago

Ely, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1993

Ahhh when Caymus was Caymus! Chocolate, leather, prune, lengthy tannins and a nice bit of acid still hanging on! — a month ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2006

It is customary for the wines of Chateau Musar to be released seven years post-vintage. However, in 2013, the decision was made to hold the vintage back. 2006 was unusual for two reasons. The first, were the cool climatic conditions in the Bekaa; the likes of which had not been seen since the 1950’s. There was a two-week period in winter where the valley was blanketed in snow and mild temperatures remained in effect throughout much of the growing season. The second was much more tragic: 2006 was a war year in Lebanon. On July 12th of that year, Israel and Hezbollah engaged in a bloody conflict that lasted (officially) a little over a month. Sadly, thousands of lives were lost. In 2017, eleven years after harvest, the 2006 vintage was deemed ready for release.

Poured into a decanter about 90min prior to service. The 2006 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, blackberries, black currants, tobacco, horse blanket, leather, some red and purple flowers, dried herbs and Eastern spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and absolutely delicious. A triumph and perfect with lamb chops. Drink now through 2046+.

How Chateau Musar endures to make wines from the Bekaa remain one of the great examples of human grit and determination available in the world of wine. Frankly, it’s a minor miracle this vintage ever made it to the winery.
— 2 months ago

Lyle, Jan and 16 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Great note (though “note” doesn’t really begin to cover it).
David White

David White

Love Chateau Musar and its history, thank you @Jay Kline for sharing the story to the 2006

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2015

Lucid and supple. Rounded fruit. Contained. Not too hot with lovely purity. Great stuff. A little tight. Some dried herbs. Delicious. — 2 months ago

Rick K
with Rick
Jay, Shay and 10 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

An exceptional, full-bodied wine. Tasted a lot of black cherry, currants, cedar, and creme de cassis. Drinking great now, but should last a long time in the cellar. — 3 months ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Even more fantastic than the previous bottle of 2010 I enjoyed a year ago. Decanted and enjoyed over 7 hours. This was good from first pour but became great and then magnificent over the next 3.5 and 7 hours. It was still full of verve on the last sip! Early only it was more dark fruit but over time the wines softened and became a bit sweeter and rounder. Tremendous length and complexity. — 3 months ago

Tom, Shay and 20 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2021

Unbelievably young but already smooth. Really fruity at this stage but will evolve nicely. Was hard to identify as a Supertuscan. Would consider buying some of this vintage and forgetting about it for 10 years... — 3 months ago

Lisanne, Ira and 27 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

It has a nearly opaque, dark fruited appearance that opens up to very appealing and persistent aromatics and flavors of blueberries and blackberries.

There is still a good amount of primary fruit; it is medium/full, well structured with a good balance of juicy acidity and refined tannins at the finish. New oak is there, but unobtrusive.

Overall, this 2010 is a reserved and savory St. Julien that doesn’t whack me over the head with gobs of oak and loads of sweet jammy fruit. It is definitely “worth a search” if you don’t have it.
— 5 months ago

Folie à Deux

Ménage a Trois California Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

My old chap cried a single tear of gooey joy drinking this beauty. — 6 years ago