Beyond Ordinary

Beyond Ordinary

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Solid blend for the price point. Definitely give it a try. Let it open a little bit for it’s full potential. If I find it for $12 again, I’m buying at least 2. — 7 years ago

Realm Cellars

Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Beyond amazing! With Realm BTK RIDIC — 8 years ago

Chad Anderson
with Chad
P, Ryan and 23 others liked this
Bill Bender

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That description also describes the quality of my “back rubs” @Kimberly Anderson....it looks like you guys had a killer night
Kimberly Anderson

Kimberly Anderson

We did @Bill Bender. Some baller wines last night! Wish you could have joined us😎

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Somm David T
9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Sofia, Eric and 22 others liked this
Somm David T

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@Severn Goodwin Would love to get to that region at peak fall. I’ve never done it. Alway wanted to drive the east coast up to Maine.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Marey-Monge Romanée-St. Vivant Pinot Noir 1994

I wanted this wine to be magnificent. It wasn't. 1994. A bit long in the tooth. Should have had it years ago. Nose brought back great memories. Wonderful flowers and nuance. Beautiful bouquet. But the win was disappointing. Just didn't go anywhere. Faded fast. More I hope a function of being beyond its time. Oh well. At least it was expensive. — 9 years ago

Todd LangCynthia LangstaffMeredith Langstaff
with Todd, Cynthia and 2 others
Chris and jesus liked this

Blue Bee Cider

Hard Apple Cider Charred Ordinary

Sour beer fans would dig this — 10 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1995

Mitja Sirk
9.4

Fantastic 1995 and ordinary 1996 — 10 years ago

Marta Venica
with Marta
Marta, Velma and 1 other liked this

Owen Roe

Crawford-Beck Vineyard Abbot's Table 2006

2006 Vintage one of the Best wines I have had. Been saving one bottle for a special occasion, and Thursday night had my wine drinking group. Having Drank other bottles of the 2006, I would say this was about 1 year beyond it's peak, but still exceptional compared to subsequent vintages of the same. — 11 years ago

Bodegas Alto Moncayo

Campo de Borja Garnacha 2009

About as good as Grenache gets. Not many others that are better. Stewed black fruits, pencil lead, and smoky minerals. Evolves with aromas of steamed veggies and chocolate. The dusty tannins and pervasive acidity can potentially take this wine to 2020 and beyond. — 12 years ago

Buitenverwachting

Beyond Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Fruity, peppery, surprising! — 13 years ago

Moss Wood

Moss Wood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Rated a 10/10 vintage from Moss Wood and this bottle certainly lived up to that. Herbaceous as expected with hints of tobacco but also coupled with cassis and blackberry on the palate. Medium bodied and resolved tannins but still with a future. It will easily see its 20th Birthday and beyond. Last one was in April 2015 and was superlative. Drink the next one in 2021. — 7 years ago

Martin, Mark and 17 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Black fruit, oak, and leather, with a heavy mouthfeel, and beyond delicious. #celebrating #firsttimemarathon — 8 years ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Shay and 13 others liked this

Marqués de Murrieta

Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2005

Had this about 3 years ago. Gorgeous Ruby red with an elegant bouquet of cherries and berries, subtle spice with earthy tones, a traditional Rioja. The palate did not disappoint, the wine was silky smooth with layers of flavors, tobacco, smoky cedar, dark fruit, vanilla spice, very well balanced with firm tannins and a clean structure ending with a nice lingering finish. Delicious! Still great with room to run. This wine shows potential aging well beyond 2020. I have 1 more ‘05 bottle left!!! — 8 years ago

Bryce, David and 1 other liked this

Leonetti Cellar

Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Hitting it's peak. Nice layers of complexity developing beyond the fruits with earth and gravel. — 9 years ago

Ulysse Collin

Les Maillons Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne Pinot Noir

#Blownaway...only Cru in Champagne that has black flint in the soil🖤 So deep in color...tasters well beyond its age👌🏻😁😍 — 9 years ago

Matt Walrath
with Matt
Matt and David liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2003

I find LdH's achievements for both 2002 & 2003 to be remarkable. Difficult vintages for completely different reasons. This 03 is certainly a big wine, but that is to be expected with the noted European heatwave that year. Beyond the ripeness, it checks all the boxes of the house style. Structure, texture, nuance from the oak. They are magicians. — 10 years ago

Mike, Tom and 63 others liked this
Andrew Fortgang

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Well put.
Jason MacLean

Jason MacLean

Yes, magicians indeed.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

An extremely well balanced and integrated wine that is moving beyond its peak. Great representation of a 1997 Napa "cab". — 10 years ago

Bill and Joseph liked this
Bill Bender

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HNY @Scott Kahn let's open some bottles and email me about Schrader if you're interested

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2010

Roses, cherries, graphite, dried thyme, rose water. Excellent acid/smooth velvet tannin balance, dry herbal finish. Medium bodied yet delicate. Has the structure for long aging. Drinks best in 2020 and beyond. — 11 years ago

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Valbuena 5° Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1995

Beyond amazing...yet still so young — 12 years ago

Ed Thralls
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Ed and TC liked this

Tramuntana

Beyond the Mountains

Lovely Sauv/Semillon from Pope Valley. Great balance, fresh and lively, excellent fruit. — 12 years ago

Anthony liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Somm David T
9.3

A continuation of our anniversary celebration @ Cole’s Steakhouse.

On the nose; cedar, saddle-wood, ripe & ruby; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum w/ skin, blue fruit hues & strawberries. Limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, anise, graphite, touch of smoke, tobacco with ash, dry stem, the slightest hint of green pepper & dry herbs with blue, red and dark fresh & withering red flowers.

The body is round, ruby and full. Classic Haut-Brion profile flavors. I don’t believe I would miss call this producer blind as its flavor profile & style is so distinct. The tannins are nicely round and soft, 60% resolved. The structure, tension, length and balance are well knitted together. It does lack some wow factor from their truly great vintages. However, there is plenty of life in this bottling and it has not achieved its peak. Probably, another 3-5 years from hitting its peak with another 8 years of good drinking beyond that. Ripe & ruby; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, dry black cherry & cranberries, black plum w/ skin, blue fruit hues & strawberries. Limestone minerals, mint, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, saddle-wood, cedar, anise, graphite, forest floor, touch of smoke, volcanic ash, tobacco with ash, dry stem, the slightest hint of green pepper & dry herbs with blue, red and dark fresh & withering red flowers. The acidity is just about perfect. The ruby finish is elegant, well polished & balanced and last minutes. It continues to evolve & improve in the glass even after a hour long decant. Just missing a 9.4. Man oh man, I love well made older Bordeaux wines. My true love.

Photos of, Chateau Haut-Brion, field-hands harvesting that magical fruit, barrel room and their library cellar that I would love to raid 😜.
— 8 years ago

Ira, Severn and 24 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2003

Stunning old classic Penfolds shiraz probably just beyond its best by date at 15 years and tasting a bit “porty”. There were also dusty notes of plum jam, chocolate and of course peppers. — 8 years ago

Scott and Nicholas liked this

Domaine Tour Saint Michel

Cuvée du Lion Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2010

My notes on this from May of 2017 still apply. Popped and poured. Drank well over two days. Immediately this wine impresses visually. Sure, the color is an expected deep garnet but what's most striking is the fact that it's never completely opaque at the core. You can just barely get the faintest amount of light to see through it. It's quite beautiful, really. The nose is initially a bit reticent but a few minutes of air in the glass does the trick and then it really begins to show off the most lovely perfume of mixed red and dark fruit; so fresh and pure with just a flash of garrigue. No perceptible heat on the nose. On the palate it's a veritable wonder of berries, Rainier cherries, black berry liqueur, and just a touch of fine white pepper. The body is perfectly proportioned and the finish lasts for over 30 seconds. In summary, this is an incredibly balanced 2010 CdP that is already hitting its prime. Personally, I felt it was really at its very best about two hours in which leaves me to believe it should be a great pop and pour for the next couple of years and potentially has the balance to be great for longer. That being said, there is no need to decant, just pull the cork, pour and enjoy the evolution in the glass. The hard part is allowing it to last for two hours and longer. It should be noted that this is dangerously quaffable wine and it wouldn't be hard to take the whole thing to the head. Might as well drink these sooner than later as I'm always a bit wary of CdP much beyond the 10 year mark, where I tend so find many of them fall apart on the palate. Perhaps others with more experience in the long-term ageing of CdP can chime in though. Absurd value at $30.

As a side note, this paired very nicely with pan fried pork savory bacon wrapped filet mignon.
— 8 years ago

David liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Caramel, oak, fig, rich berry. Beyond smooth and drinkable right from the start. Amazing paring. Worth every sip — 10 years ago

Clos Rougeard

Les Poyeux Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc 2011

This chick is a slum dunk no matter who, what, where, when, or why. Beyond a safe bet, even at $200. And yes, it's ready to go NOW — 10 years ago

Taylor EyeWalker
with Taylor
Anthony and Ira liked this

Thibaud Boudignon

Anjou Chenin Blanc 2013

Sushi Ran takes this wine above and beyond! — 11 years ago

Brewery Bosteels

Beyond the Best of Deus Brut des Flandres Cuvée Prestige Belgian Ale 2010

Baked peach & pear, cardamom, brown sugar, citrus glaze, mint, almond skin. Showing its age gracefully. #belgianbeer refermented, riddled, & disgorged in #champagne caves. #thechampagneofbeer #craftbeer #deus — 11 years ago

A liked this

Domaine Henri Gouges

Clos des Porrets St. Georges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2004

Mike Lucia
9.0

Van from witching stick and I were cross eyed to find this wine a Pinot. Beyond its microbial speed bumps, this wine was fresh and legit. — 11 years ago

Velma liked this

Buitenverwachting

Beyond Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Excellent, better than California's — 12 years ago

Luca Fischioni
with Luca
Luca Fischioni

Luca Fischioni

Overly acidic, gets better after a while
7.3