Balancing Act

Peay Vineyards

Estate Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2017

Nose is multidimensional which consistently reveals the tasting profile. Rich, creamy foundation with Meyer lemon, pineapple, and apricot poking through. Structurally matches with nice acid balancing the richness. This is rounder and softer than I expected for a young Peay. Drinking very well already. — 4 years ago

Ira, Severn and 9 others liked this

Dönnhoff

Hermannshöhle GG Riesling 2009

The 2009 Donnhoff Hermannshohle is rich and ample in the glass, showing sweet peaches and pear, with hints of kiwi, honeysuckle, and white smoke.  It races across the palate with precision and poise, delivering mineral-tinged orchard fruits, perfectly balancing weighty textures and ripeness with an acid-mineral thrust. The finish is long and floral, complemented by lingering flavors of lime and green apple with cheek puckering tension. Wow! — 5 years ago

Bob, Chris and 9 others liked this

Domaine Julien Cruchandeau

Vieilles Vignes Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Chardonnay 2017

Amazing qpr burg. Great controlled fruit. Balancing minerals. Almost a hint of lime zest. So balanced and clean. Amazing with food. Finish is clean and refreshing and mineral. Almost crunchy pebbles. bought from fass selections. — 6 years ago

Tom, Keith and 3 others liked this

Saviah Cellars

Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2016

Beautiful, silky Syrah unfolding with the brilliant record Dark Bird has flown by The Tallest Man on Earth. The songs here are short stories and reflections while the wine is a connector with pretty bright fruit & balancing structure. I love when acidity emerges in Syrah and it comes in spades here. — 6 years ago

Brian, Eric and 31 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I grabbed the 14 out of the cellar tonight and then saw this! Great minds yada yada yada.
Anthony Lombardi

Anthony Lombardi

@Tom Casagrande - Indeed. Really great stuff.

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2007

Had great wines in Spain but this rivaled those. Full bodied with no, to limited, tannins. Drinking by itself was nice and also paired nicely with Korean kalbi beef, balancing the sugar and spice of the marinade. — 8 years ago

Anthony liked this

Mastroberardino

Radici Taurasi Aglianico 2006

Tough act to follow after the Masseto — 9 years ago

Chris, Emily and 1 other liked this
Adam Crane

Adam Crane Influencer Badge

Just got some 06 riserva from Stacole that they prices wrong...$42

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

The Ojai Vineyard

Melville Vineyards Syrah 2000

Drinking beautifully tonight was the opaque inky purple '00 Ojai Syrah 'Melville Vineyards'. Zippy aromas of black fruit, burnt rubber, herbes de Provence and lavender lifted from the decanter. Great intensity of ripe spicy fruit flavors on the palate with precise balancing acidity. Still a young tasting wine with many years of drinkability left. — 11 years ago

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Scorewine
9.1

This Chateau Lafon Rochet from the superb 2005 vintage is beaming with elegance, still a bit young, yet delicious, sublime and tempting.
My old tasting note stays firm as I go through the case, the nose is a bit restrained yet tempting and complex, notes of black currents, leather, earth, oak, dust and pepper. The body is full with round tannins and balancing acidity, the finish is long and chewy. I recommend a couple of hours decanting before enjoying at this early stage.
My score 91, drink to 2030
— 5 years ago

Martijn, Michael and 23 others liked this

Enderle & Moll

Liaison Pinot Noir 2015

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the youths (mostly college)! Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading one operatic work from WAGNER (Die Walküre, Act I). This is our WAGNER weekend with the BSO, Acts II & III will be performed tomorrow afternoon and evening.

On the nose we have light cedar box, black pepper, ripe blackberries/strawberries and voilet blossom. On the palate we have chalky Pinot fruits, sweet spice notes, earthy/loamy minerals, ripe cherry and blackberry. In a very nice place tonight!
— 6 years ago

Ely, Julia and 24 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

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

The Ojai Vineyard

Roll Ranch Vineyard Viognier Ice Wine 2012

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik
9.0

Floral in a very cool way with peach flavors, fine tuned acidity balancing its rich sweetness. Great and individually made sticky. — 9 years ago

Drew, Anthony and 8 others 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. — 9 years ago

Ira liked this

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

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

Had last tried this at ep tastings in 2005. This is actually even better than I had expected. Lovely black fruits with balancing acidity lovely finish ..... Bravo Pontet Canet! — 10 years ago

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. — 12 years ago

Teatro

Act II Latinfina S.A. Cabernet Sauvignon

Full bodies. Excellent with cheeses. Smooth. — 5 years ago

De Bortoli

La Bohème Act Four Syrah Blend

TA
9.0

A great dinner party red - not too easy to drink that you drink without really registering anything except “red wine” but not one you have to dry to decide whether you like or not. — 5 years ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1976

Dark color. Hints of marmalade and toffee. Not much fizz. A slightly tired bottle but fascinating still with good intensity and depth and a balancing acidity. — 5 years ago

Aaron HorwitzWalker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Aaron, Walker and 1 other
Ira, Shay and 9 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

a hint of blackcurrant & good balancing acidity. — 6 years ago

Pond Suriyachoti
with Pond

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

A broad sexy nose with a whiff of band aid. Sweet red fruit but great balancing acidity. Lovely animal, iron, tobacco, gnarly blue depth, iodine. Really lush and spectacular. And long. — 8 years ago

Matt Lichtenberg
with Matt
Sylvain, Anthony and 4 others liked this

De Bortoli

La Bohème Act Two Pinot Noir Rosé 2016

Really beautiful, light but full of flavour — 8 years ago

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. — 9 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

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

That's very nice!

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

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. — 10 years ago

Virgilio and TC liked this