Bird On A Wire
Ridge Vineyards
Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2015
Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.
It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.
Excellent gourmet burger wine. — 2 years ago
Birds on a Wire
Portugal Red Blend
Spicy, easy to drink red. — 2 years ago
Domaine Duroche
Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2015
Nose has juiced ripe cherries, wet cedar, roses, dry garden soil and faint strawberry jam.
Palate has bright cherry fruit, elderberry jelly, ripe cranberry, wet leather and faint tobacco notes. Great acidity and long finish.
Decanted 5H, this is in the zone now for sure.
Paired with a local whole chicken, 24H brine, Asian style spice rub, cooked on my grill rotisserie with apple wood chips smoking away for about 75m. Potatoes, onions and root vegetables in the roasting pan beneath to catch all the drippings. Crispy skin on the bird and good smoke flavor/penetration in the meat. A great reward for laboring away in the yard and garden all weekend. — 4 years ago
@Tom Casagrande Thanks, I stink like apple wood smoke tho, perhaps there are worse things in life?
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
Happy birthday honey. 🎂🥳🎉❤️
The Chateau that got my wife Sofia to finally love Bordeaux (1995). Expected more from the this property in 2000. But 2000 is still either the stubborn I think it is or just not as good as critically advertised. 20 years in bottle and think it needs at least 10 more years. Also, a touch of v/a-bandaid. It has nice balance with soft fruit & earth. It just lacks the wow factor for the property & vintage. Maybe, it is in a dumb faze. But, I’ve been waiting 20 years for 2000 to come out of its shell. I love this property but it is not up to its reputation…even for lesser vintages. It might be outstanding in another 20. This bottle is a little flawed and perhaps maybe (?) a better 2nd day wine. Tonight it is leaner than I would expect. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Sweet lead pencil, charcoal, volcanic ash, spice, nutmeg, some cinnamon, vanillin, dry tobacco, sandalwood, limestone, dry crushed rocks , dry pebbles, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, dry herbs, hints of Worcestershire sauce, moist clay, withering mid floral bouquet with excellent acidity and a wire to wire finish that is balanced, nicely tensioned and elegance that lasts minutes. One of the few slightly flawed bottles in 25 plus yrs of collecting. I can count them on just over one-hand.
Picture of Sofia picking the 2012 Mouton Rothschild Merlot. — a year ago
Mylonas
Savatiano 2020
Sea breeze, lemon verbena, green melon, mineral (hint of flunky) and an almond/vanilla note.
Greek salad was one of the first foods I learned to “cook” for myself, and it’s still a go to for me: salty, crisp, simple, refreshing, much like this delightful Greek wine. And most of the time, that’s more than enough. Made from the much maligned Savatiano grape (for its unfortunate association with retsina). It reminds me more of a Gavi, (lower acid) Chablis, or Soave than Assyrtiko.
Also, the bird on the label is wearing a bowler hat which is fun. — 3 years ago
Gosset
Celebris Extra Brut Rosé Champagne 2007
Happy New Year! 🎈🎊🎆 Hope yours is rosie like ours.
Beautiful mousse, soft on the palate, micro-oxygenation, creamy, strawberries w/ cream, orange citrus blend-orange, blood orange, tangerine, cherries, some light blackberries, saline, soft chalkiness with a fine sharp edge, baguette crust, light dough, light yeastiness, sea fossils, limestone powder, spring flowers, fruit blossoms, pink roses, soft, round acidity, excellently knitted, well balanced, soft tension and beautiful wire to wire with a not overly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds. — a year ago
Marcel Martinez
Pico Madama Jumilla Petit Verdot - Monastrell Blend 2005
This is 50% Monastrell & 50% Petit Verdot.
This is nice and on latter side of its drinking window. Go figure w/ my palate. Brickish color on the edges. It is interesting, heady wine at this stage, soft, resolved with nice evolution and nothing that bites back. The benefit of drinking older wines. The nose is Spanish rustic. Understated fruits that are floral, slightly bright and yet have a stewy character. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers.
The palate is on the leaner side. Rustic fruits of ; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, sandy limestone, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers. The acidity is really good. The finish is well balanced with nice structure and similar wire to wire.
@Delectable this is the Pico Madama — 2 years ago
Bisol
Private Cartizze Non Dosato Valdobbiadene Prosecco
Decided to try this one that has been on the shelf awhile for NYE. Quite nice with a very yeasty, flint, and smoke aroma. Nice Fizz. Yellow-green in color. The cork is a bit unusual as it is held on with a rope as opposed to a wire cage. Smooth with a slight salinity and nice finish. — 3 years ago
Bruce Dunbar
It’s not just the name of the 2018 Under the Wire Alder Springs Sparkling Pinot Noir that is more than a mouthful. This is a beautiful, multi-layered sparkler with floral notes, hints of fragrant herbs and strawberry along with crisp acidity and a subtle mousse. It’s somewhere between a white and rosé, having taken on a copper hue from brief skin contact. The Alder Springs is a great food wine with room to develop. — 6 months ago