Better Half

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Quite light lemon yellow , very persistent , fine bubbles . Quite taut and strict on the nose , chalk dust , white flowers , honey suckle and elderflower , lemon peel , touch oyster shell and a touch of fresh baked bread . On the palate really good volume and density , lively acidity . Lots of citrus with good mineral , oyster shell notes . Long and mineral , saline, tinged finish , hint of toasty brioche on the end . This is really quite young and shows tighter and more mineral than the first bottle we had . Would leave this a few years and will have a long life , better in 10 -15 years and last well a further 10 or so . Great potential — 3 months ago

Somm, Jan and 12 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Just a half bottle test.. way way too early. Decanted and it needed a solid hour before it unfolded at all. Great structure lurking but this experience was impaired by immaturity. — 4 months ago

Andrew, Jan and 19 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

I had the 2014 Latour a couple of years back. It was from a half bottle and I remember it was rather disappointing. But this wine has really come around. Or maybe it has been developing much better in a full size bottle. Today it’s graceful, with great posture and in perfect balance. A timeless beauty. I had a few 2014 (both left and right bank) lately and I find them very appealing right now. A unsung vintage that turned out pretty good imo. — 5 months ago

Billy, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Decanted for 2 hours before we touched it

2nd sip was better than the first. As if you needed the first sip to prepare yourself for this wine

Overall great structure and solid fruit. Improved with airtime. Delicious wine.
— 7 months ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Very dark ruby color. Medium plus acidity with grippy tannins. Needs a lot of air and much better the next day. Smell of dark fruit, tobacco notes. On the palate more earthy notes of gravel, tar, graphite with coffee and dark fruit. Will improve with age. — 8 months ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2006

Solid but not elite Yquem. Possessed all the depth and complexity you would expect but was more narrow without the focus you get in a better vintage. — 8 months ago

Jan, Ira and 17 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

jesus g
9.4

Way better from large format — 9 months ago

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Shay, Vanessa and 32 others liked this
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Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2013

Working is always better with Champagne. Deep acidity, bright citrus notes, racy on the palate, and a lasting finish. Cheers. — 4 months ago

Andrew, Ted and 16 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2013

Somm David T
9.3

Better on its own and still needs lots of time. Hold another 5-8 years and beyond. — 4 months ago

Jay, Douglas and 24 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

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Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of black fruits, cedar, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, light vanilla and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, cooked cherries, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, cedar, earth, dark chocolates, licorice, cola, spices, vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 17 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon feels more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Fruit forward with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing great complexity and delicious, but I expected more from this great 2007 vintage. I had the 2001 not too long ago, and it was so much better.

Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. A good food wine too.

A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$350.
— 5 months ago

Paul, Juan and 15 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043. — 6 months ago

Ely, Jan and 12 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020

Paul K
9.4

Boys weekend at the cabin and enjoying great wines and better stories. — 8 months ago

Steve, Bob and 20 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Neck base fill. Cork fairly saturated. Durand used. Appropriate sediment. Opened but not decanted. Tasted after one hour. Light-medium body. This was fully integrated and harmonious. Can’t imagine this vintage tasting better as this was a great specimen. Finish just glided along like a sail craft on a glassy day. Can hold at this level for another 5-6 years easy. One of the best Lafite efforts I’ve ever enjoyed. 8.16.24. — 9 months ago

Jan, Ira and 21 others liked this

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Isosceles Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Always a favorite, but it would be better aged — 9 months ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

My second time trying the 2016 vintage. I’ll hang on to my remaining bottles as it’s only getting better. — 4 months ago

Somm, Peter and 4 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Pretty deep , narrow ruby rim. Quite rich , almost exotic nose , dark cassis , dark plum, rich spiced blackberry, touch of cocoa , vanilla, smoke. On the palate this is quite rich but also very elegant with balanced refreshing acidity . Cassis , mineral , grafite , dark cherry. Ripe but very present tannins . Long and refined finish . After a while becoming more mineral and quite serious . Needs time , better in 5-10 years and last well a further 10-15 . This is a very successful showing and though obviously very young is enjoyable and involving to drink at the moment. — 5 months ago

Daniel, Jan and 14 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1966

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted to be served several hours later. The 1966 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core. This is red fruit heavy and sanguine with ferrous earth, leather, and old wood. The tannins are firm still. An almost evergreen St-Estèphe that’s iron clad and tough as nails. Better than good but at nearly 60 years old, will it ever relax? Hard to say. It would likely survive another 60 years but it’s hard to imagine it evolving a lot considering where we’re at today. So...drink now, I guess? — 5 months ago

Lyle, Jan and 14 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Ain't getting better. Tasted two bottles in 2023. Holding up more than expected but time's a ticking...
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Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2021

J Choi
9.4

Nice nose. Crunchy. Bright red fruit. Spice pepper on finish. Better than prior bottles. Slight funk. — 8 months ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1980

Somm David T
9.6

It’s a night of consecutive first year decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order.

I had an 80 from Andy Beckstoffer’s cellar at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April 24 with Andy & Tor Kenward. This library bottle I bought recently at K&L is better than what I had a Pebble. Just look at the cork!

Glorious mouth entry. Juicy, perfect, ripe fruit that shows age but it is not missing a step. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark, juicy, poached strawberries, baked rhubarb mid, dark cherries, candied raspberries to raspberry pudding. Just a touch of v/a, chocolate pudding/fudge, mocha, caramel, light, soft, sun tea, softened baking spices- cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh & dry herbs, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, evolved, dark spices w/ some palate heat, dry top soil, limestone powder, hint of mint, with & fresh florals that are; dark, red, blue & liquid violets and lavender sprinkled in, perfect acidity and perfectly balanced, softly tensioned, knitted and a refined finish that lasts two-minutes.

This bottle is in a perfect spot & as good as it gets. Perfectly stored. It has another 5 years. Liquid, velvety tannins. One of the more perfect bottles I’ve had in 5-10 years.

Photos of, my tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. The retail wine shop at Spanish Bay, Andy Beckstoffer & Tor Kenward.
— 9 months ago

Shay, Scott@Mister and 22 others liked this