Carl Fischer

9.7

"Bad Ass in a Glass" is quite accurate here. Poured from a double magnum, this was a big wine that had people smiling and buzzing (in every sense of the word!). Globs of dark fruit, silky smooth, a touch sweet, but so well integrated.

Thank you @Martin G Rivard and @Christine for an epic 48 hours and for opening your home last night for the Super Bowl of wine tastings (and for the four different types of grilled cheese sandwiches that magically appeared toward the end of the night!).

While the wines shared last night literally were the best of the best, so too were the folks I had the pleasure of seeing again and meeting for the first time. Thank you all for making last night so memorable. I look forward to staying in touch and sharing a glass (bottle?) with you all again in the near future.

@David L @Mike R @Ron R @Joe Lucca @Shawn R @Bill Bender @Daryl Calhoun @Ryan M @leon egozi @David Goldfinger @David From The 504 @Monica O @Ira Shapiro @Jeffrey Lew @Mo Salem @"Odedi" @Kirk Alexander @Gina Sabean (tag anyone I may have missed!). Your generosity and enthusiasm in sharing wine was greatly appreciated. — 7 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.8

Holy tall green giants Batman! This is the real reason I drink wine. @Bill Bender @Warren Sapp @Neal Schaffer @Vanessa D @Eric Shanks @Jim Trobaugh @David L @Eric LaMasters @Paul T @Jade Moore @Doug Davidson @Ron R @Connor McMahon @TheSkip — 7 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

I have known for years that Paso Robles makes great wine. This is an excellent example of what perfect weather, abundant water and great soils can produce. Deep rich dark fruit and extremely fine silky tannins! @Paul T @Ron R @Jim Trobaugh @Bill Bender @Jacqueline @Eric Shanks @Connor McMahon @Martin G Rivard — 7 years ago

romo

9.7

Straight-up head-turning red fruit and baking spice, silky smooth w a finish that gives pause. A real treat. @Bill Bender — 8 years ago

Joe Conti

9.7

Blue fruits. Menthol. Amazing finish. This was the last wine I had of the night. Delicious. Phenomenal tasting. Thanks to @Roman Sukley @Bill Bender @DAG @Mike Conti and @Tyler Christensen for coming out and bringing some truly remarkable, once in a lifetime wines. — 8 years ago

with Mike, Bill and 2 others

Tj Adams

9.6

Imperial 6L bottle. Awesome!!! @Chris Koupal @Bill Bender you guys would have enjoyed this one — 8 years ago

WC Fields

9.0

Tasted. No doctors made me pay through the nose like Mr. @Bill Bender but I feel his pain. My impatience won't allow me to buy this "en quant." Drink now or forever hold your peace! $200/btl means I hold my wallet... — 8 years ago

DAG

9.5

This dog will hunt. Not for sale @Bill Bender @Roman Sukley So blessed to have great friends. — 9 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.2

Tuesday night. Big Blackhawks game. Although I would prefer a bottle of Imposter McCoy as suggested by @Bill Bender & @Dag Zapatero, alas, I will have to settle for some Epoch with my leftover pizza. Go Hawks! We need this one. — 9 years ago

DAG

9.5

How many of you every noticed the hologram on the Bond label? Look down the bottle and the latter "B" is as clear as day. Pretty nifty. @V M @Jason Heller @Scott E @Ira Shapiro @Mike Smith @Steve Swaney @Bill Bender @Roman Sukley — 9 years ago

Mike R

9.6

Got to exercise to handle big boy wines - @Bill Bender and @Shawn R can't wait to finally enjoy some wine together and you meet the WNH gang

Love my Napa cab Colgin - decanted 3 hours - just big bold and beautiful - dark fruit - great explosion of tastes - I going to crack open the 12s soon - hint FL

All SMILES — 7 years ago

TheSkip

9.1

One of my favorite dinners was on the menu here at Chez Skip - cassoulet! And my knowledge of wine pairing is as sophisticated as a toddler eating spaghetti, I said to myself - hey I am eating French food and I like this French wine, so hey why not? And that was that. But as wine can be, it evoked its memory of when I had it first. I remember sitting out in the patio and being impressed with it. I thought to myself I could really enjoy French wines, but as history has shown, that was clearly a short lived notion.

Knowing it had been some time, I had an odd feeling, so I checked my Delectable history. Indeed, this was the very first wine I had rated!

So, to my friends, do you remember your first wine on here? Was it anything memorable? @philip Angino @Martin A. Cody @Shay Aldriedge @Anthony Lombardi @Sharon B @Bill Bender @Bob McDonald @dan boedeker @Brian Tuite @Greg Ballington @Matthew Beninati @Carl Fischer @Ryan Carey @MaJ CappS @Roman Sukley @Daryl Calhoun @David L @Palmer Emmitt @Eric Shanks @Evan Bienstock @Fraser McKinley @Jean-Francois Pelletier @jesus g @Martin G Rivard @Henrik Poulsen @Christanna Honer @Isaac Pirolo @Rob Brobst III @Jim Trobaugh @Jody Scharf @Joe Lucca @Kim Stanbro @Rafael Landestoy @Ryan M @Mo Salem @Mike Smith @Mike R @"Odedi" @Paul T @Ron R @Shawn R @Janet Ross (and anyone else I accidentally left off!) — 7 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

All this and no one around. Man I really need a few friends right now and the 3L needs a party to attend tonight. 95's n 98's @Paul T @Vanessa D @David L @Jacqueline @Bill Bender @Neal Schaffer @Terri Walker @Jim Trobaugh @Eric Shanks @Warren Sapp @Eric LaMasters @@Jade Moore @TheSkip — 7 years ago

Ryan M

9.5

It has been a ☔️️☔️️🍂🍂 weekend here in Chicago and I couldn't let this gift from @David A Lentine stare at me anymore. Time to pop some good stuff. Plus we have to celebrate a 💪🏻💪🏻 showing by 🇺🇸 at the Ryder Cup, right @Mike Rowe ⛳️?

I'm excited to try some of @Celia Welch wines that all you post so much of and rave about. 2011 was a difficult harvest but the initial swirl indicates no impact of that!

Once again @David A Lentine thanks for the generous gift and feeding my #napacab addiction!! #100percentcab #napavalleyforever

Happy Sunday drinking: @Martin G Rivard @Ron R @David A Lentine @Mike Rowe @TheSkip @Rochelle @Paul T @Jim Trobaugh @Daryl Calhoun @Mike Smith @David Trumper @Bill Bender @Shawn G. Rose @Dustin Soiseth — 8 years ago

with Larissa

Steve Anderson

9.3

#LambFest. En Magnum (of course). Thanks @Bill Bender . — 8 years ago

with Dan and Bill

Karyn Fricke

8.9

Pleasant, lightly Oaked and still crisp — 8 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.4

Thanks to @Bill Bender for this one. Getting the primi off to a good start. This is a Chardonnay that wants to be a White Rhone! 🙂😋 Happy TG to all my wine friends! — 8 years ago

-

9.0

Medium lemon colour. Nice intensity nose showing aromas of ripe green apple, peaches, lemon peel, honeysuckle and hints of honey.

Sweet in the mouth with a high zesty and refreshing acidity well-balanced by loads of fruit concentration and the residual sugar. Lingering citrusy finish. Quite nice and beginning to develop tertiary aromas, but it could be more complex, maybe in a few years more. — 9 years ago

Ernie Slubik

9.2

Great German Pinot to drink alone or with food. — 9 years ago

Jeramy Torrance

9.5

One of my all time favorites. Great acidity with loads of lychee and pear fruit. Another gorgeous gem from Andreas. — 9 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

Thanks for the recommendation Martin @Martin G Rivard @David L @Ron R @Eric Shanks @Vanessa D @Paul T @Jim Trobaugh @Bill Bender @Warren Sapp @TheSkip — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.6

@Ron R @Mike R @David L @Howard Greenfield @Kirk Alexander @Joe Lucca @Carl Fischer @Paul T @Bill Bender @Ted Mandes @Jim Trobaugh @Monica O @Terri Walker @Steve Colanero My amazing friend Steve Colanero is a retired chef. We enjoyed an amazing dinner in his home this evening and opened these 2 beauties. Becklyn Reserve and a private propriety blend called "M" by Ted Mandes.
I opened and reviewed the Becklyn Reserve last night as well. You all know how I felt about it. Extremely solid and I rated accordingly. My opinion hasn't changed. It's an awesome wine. Thanks again David for introducing me to this Beauty!! — 7 years ago

with Ted, Steve and 1 other

Michael Meyer

9.0

Focused tannins, a ripe plum/fig palate and some tea leaf. Throwing a bit of heat on the long finish but perfect with pork, Gorgonzola, and fig reduction. Hey @Bill Bender, how do you like the label? — 7 years ago

with Chuck

Rob Brobst III

9.3

This is a good wine with ripe fruit, flowers and a BEAUTIFUL NOSE. Well done for $20 bucks. I'm so glad Patrick Chapman (Screaming Eagle) has landed here. Call him and stock up now for spring. This one doesn't disappoint. @Paul T @Ron R @Jacqueline @Bill Bender @Jim Trobaugh @Eric Shanks @David L @TheSkip @Jade Moore @Warren Sapp — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.4

This is the '05 so-called "Blue Label" which isn't very blue, but I digress. I was a little rough on the last Lillian I opened, which I believe was the '06 regular bottling. It was a might underwhelming. This bottle has more highs than lows. Inky black color. Swirl the wine and you can't count the legs in the glass. Absolute knockout nose of licorice, spice and Dr Pepper. Best part of the experience for me. SO inviting. The downside is that the fruit is a little muted. Still some black fruit essence, however. And a bit hot on the finish. I guess I would still say it's best days are in the rear view mirror, but I'll hang on to a few to revisit somewhere down the road. Apologies to @Bill Bender for the absence of breasts in the photo. — 8 years ago

Tj Adams

9.5

@Chris Koupal @Bill Bender you guys must try this one!!! I had it Tuesday night in Charleston. Wow!! — 8 years ago

DAG

8.9

Never know what you might find. It may have been a little past prime but it's a crowd pleasure and nudge me to order some young. @Bill Bender and @Roman Sukley too like them young. — 8 years ago

Tj Adams

9.2

@Chris Koupal @Bill Bender legit!! — 9 years ago

Charlie Abbott

Sommelier Casa Mono

9.4

Espectacular!! On a real Garnacha bender these days

Edit 03/2017- lifted red cherry, dark citrus oil, rosemary, granite, transparent. One of the best garnachas coming out of spain — 9 years ago

with Casa

Phil Castellano

9.1

Is it beer or is it espresso? Great nutty beer from Surly in Minnesota. Sometimes you just need to go on a bender....sorry about MSU Jim — 9 years ago