Balancing Act Wines

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2009

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Velvety smooth, beautiful rounded fruity flavour balancing the earth but subtle smokey flavour. I would drink this ever single week if I could. The most beautiful Rioja I will probably ever have. Served it NYE with Lamb. — 7 years ago

Madeleine liked this

Joseph Swan Vineyards

Trenton View Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2011

Marc Stubblefield
8.9

Big and ripe for a Swan, but has some balancing pomegranate and cranberry tartness that lifts it up a little. Better with pork tinga that muted a bit of the heat. — 9 years ago

Derek, Velma and 13 others liked this

Dönnhoff

Hermannshöhle GG Riesling 2012

Stone fruit and searing acidity balancing on a razors edge. — 10 years ago

Alex LallosNathaniel DiMaggio
with Alex and Nathaniel
Nathaniel, Drew and 3 others liked this
Alex Lallos

Alex Lallos Influencer Badge

Give it 10 years and wowie!!!!!!!
9.0
Nathaniel DiMaggio

Nathaniel DiMaggio Influencer Badge

What Lee said...This is going to be especially amazing in about 5-10 years.
9.0

Domaine Zind Humbrecht

Heimbourg Riesling 2012

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik
9.1

Massive, super-ripe, block-buster nose revealing acacia honey, partly dried tropical fruits and spice elements. Exotic on the palate with acidity balancing the RS, in this off-dry and powerful version. — 10 years ago

LM, Eric and 5 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1966

An ode to 2 amazing women who look and act far younger than this '66 BV with whom they share a birthday. Still fresh and gaining weight in the glass for an hour, the nose was classic Napa. It showed neither bricking or shading of the cassis and black cherry fruit, with acidity and tannins on the downside but fading gracefully. What a pleasant surprise - thanks to @benchmark and sommelier Brian @farm at carneros inn, who cracked a cork I would've destroyed! — 10 years ago

Melissa Shabinsky
with Melissa
Melissa, Steve and 16 others liked this

Domaine Roulot

Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2010

Very good B.B. nice richness. Balancing acidity. A touch of minerality. — 7 years ago

Severn, Daniel and 5 others liked this

De Bortoli

La Bohème Act Two Pinot Noir Rosé 2016

Really beautiful, light but full of flavour — 9 years ago

Enderle & Moll

Liaison Pinot Noir 2013

The first hour is a bit bitter but good and interesting. After an hour it integrates and wow. Still has that vintage bitterness but fruit comes out with balancing sweet licorice. A very tasty wine but it's singularity is impressive. This is why you buy natural wine from great winemakers. You get wine that is good but also a new experience. Man delivers what God hath wrought. Wow. Bravo. — 10 years ago

Lyle liked this

Ata Rangi

Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013

More fruit driven and powerful than the Bindi Original. Ripe fleshy cherry notes. Silky mouthfeel. Through the waves of fruit there is also a reasonable level of tannin and acid which will carry it into the future. A class act. — 10 years ago

Ira liked this

Mastroberardino

Radici Taurasi Aglianico 2009

Mouth filling with soft tannins and nice balancing acidity. Plum and pepper. — 10 years ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1999

Such a baby yet, huge aromatics of apricot, lemon zest, stone fruit. Bright crisp acidity balancing a luscious sweetness. Power and finesse in one. Tons of age left. — 10 years ago

Jonata Winery

El Desafio de Jonata Santa Ynez Valley Red Blend 2009

Lyle Coffield
9.2

Under the radar California class act. But BEWARE!!! She's a bug'un! Like a female bodybuilder muscle and grace. — 11 years ago

Virgilio and TC liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

On the flight from Dubai to Singapore . Ch Cos d'Estournel, 2004. Deeper core than the Quintet tasted alongside , less bright rim bordering on garnet , but young I suppose for the age , viscous legs . Classic cigar box , truffle and blackcurrant, cassis notes . Serious , cool vintage character. Lovely fruit on the palate , nice balancing acidity , cassis and darker fruits predominating. Tannins slightly drying , though this seems to be entering mid life they still may resolve . There is a nice quantity of fruit , but this does come across as an 'off vintage' , though I don't particularly like that term. Again elegant and reasonably long finish . An interesting pair of wines , this and the Mount Mary Quintet as it happens . — 8 years ago

Andy and Eckhard liked this

Vasse Felix

Heytesbury Margaret River Chardonnay 2010

Pale gold. This wine swept all before it on the Australian Show Circuit and has stamped Heytesbury as one of our great Chardonnays. A leesy smokey nose with a hint of sewing machine oil. Still citrusy with medium + intensity. A class act. — 9 years ago

David, Spinning_spins and 4 others liked this

Mas de Boislauzon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2010

Dark pepper-y cdp. Good structure, balancing fruit & a sincere take on the Southern Rhone. — 10 years ago

Carla, Sean and 29 others liked this

Seavey Vineyard

Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Had the magnum a while back with family and was impressed. This wine is wonderful a nose you want to dive into, and then just a wonderful collaboration of fruit, tannin and balancing acid. Bravo - just placed my order for the 2012. — 10 years ago

David and John liked this
David L

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That's very nice!

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Usually have the best wine of the week at Sunday lunch. The 86 Latour is this weeks wine of the week. Hi Tannic year in Bordeaux and many experts think that Latour lost the plot in 86 with most thinking that Mouton was the wine of the vintage. This wine had lots of leather savouriness with no fruit character but still a class act. A good wine but not at the usual superlative Latour standard. — 10 years ago

François and Feliks liked this

Seña

Aconcagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

Very good nose with intense aroma of ripe fruit and cassis. Its dark ruby red color does not deceive ones sense. The density of the wine with well balancing between tannin and acidity. This will get even better in the next 5-10 years. — 13 years ago