Black Bear Winery

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Château Latour is an iconic estate in the Pauillac commune on the left bank of Bordeaux, achieving coveted ‘First Growth’ status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

The estate has roots dating back to the 14th century and derives its name ‘La Tour’ from a fortress tower built during the Hundred Years’ War, which no longer exists but is prominently featured on the label in recognition of its history.

We weren’t sure what to expect, as many have predicted these 1983s are likely past their prime, but this wine was a masterpiece. 🤩

It was medium garnet in color with expressive notes of cedar box, cigar, clove, peat, leather, forest floor, fig, prune, dried black cherry, plum, cassis, blackberry compote, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, dried violet, potpourri, kalamata olive, pencil shavings, graphite, & bacon fat.

It had the most velvety, fine-grained tannins that washed across the palate with ease, with a gentle but notable acidity that maintained lift and balance. It was concentrated, complex, and had a long, elegant finish.
— 3 days ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Ted, Jay and 4 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Already said it on Insta but Happy Birthday again @Vanessa ! Great choice to celebrate too!
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Jay Kline Thank you very much, Jay!! It definitely hit the spot. 🎯 It was tasting beautifully!!

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Lovely wine! Beautifully balanced. Soft well integrated tannins. Ripe red and black fruit. Drinking very well with just a short decant. — 2 months ago

Peter, Ted and 7 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.5

From 375ml. @Lira Restaurant The Chef is the Gordon Ramsey winner.

Resolved, velvety M+ tannins. Ruby fruits of; blackberry pie, black raspberries, blueberries, both plums, dark cherries & raspberries. Dark chocolate bar, slightly moist tobacco, sandalwood to barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry herbs, light cinnamon, clove, vanillin, mocha, dry, volcanic clay, dark, withering flowers, some lavender framed in violets, excellent round acidity with incredible, balance, perfectly tensioned, softly structured, elegance finish that lasts a full minute.
— 2 months ago

Tom, Joe and 14 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

This has stared to show some secondary notes. Black fruits, with nice spice, floral & tobacco. Off their list — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister, David and 10 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah

Exceptional wine - deep ruby color with a huge bouquet of violet, plum, black pepper, black cherry, licorice, vanilla, clove, prune and dried rose petal. Velvet tannins, the alcohol is well balanced with the fruit and full-bodied texture. Still in its infancy but already delicious, this wine has a stunning future — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister, Paul and 4 others liked this
David White

David White

Are you going to try the new La Chapelle Grange blend at $2000 ++?

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Diamond Collection Black Label Claret California Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

No detailed notes. Just a good drink now budget Cabernet from California which drinks to its price point. Blackberry and dark chocolate. A Coppola movie has more complexity 😎 — 4 months ago

Tom, Ron and 17 others liked this
Ron R

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Funny 😄
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, did you catch the vintage?

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2021

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, spices and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Grenache blend is starting to drink very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Elegant and rich. Interesting and engaging. A very traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape in style.

Well balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of all 13 allowed grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but mostly Grenache. Hand picked and whole cluster. Aged for 2 years in large French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110.
— a month ago

Vanessa, Joe and 17 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Wine is ruby red. On nose its Figs, blackberries, oak, vanilla, pine woods. On palate, Blackcurrants, black cherries, licorice, its medium+ acidity, medium intensity with fruitiness, tannic ending and long finish. Its a good wine and drinkable now. — 2 months ago

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2013

When 1st opened this was all black & blue fruits, inky, graphite that opened with air revealing dark cherry, berry fruit, bacon fat, black olive, pepper, spice & violets — 2 months ago

Rob, Shay and 10 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

boys nite. Very classical napa valley. nose is better than palate. blue fruit, opulent, mineral. now i know my type of wine is one with cabernet, merlot, can franc. comparable to pomerol. just get the cheaper one you can find — 3 months ago

Jan, Ceccherini and 1 other liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Considered by some to be the Wine of the Vintage, the 2005 Léoville-Barton
Is a full bodied mouthful of black currants, minerals, spices, grippy tannins and enough energy to evolve for another decade.
— 3 months ago

Neil, Paul and 4 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986

Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 3 months ago

Anthony, Jan and 8 others liked this

Gnarly Head

1924 Limited Edition Double Black Lodi Red Blend 1924

Pehmee, vahva maku, ei tanniininen — 3 months ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004

At over 20 years old, the 2004 Opus One is showing beautifully, striking a balance between maturity and vibrancy. On the nose, it opens with an inviting bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with subtle notes of violet, tobacco, and espresso.
On the palate, the wine is smooth and full-bodied, with fine-grained tannins and a silky texture that coats the mouth without being heavy. The core is rich with dark fruit—black plum, currant, and a touch of blueberry—balanced by earthy undertones and a whisper of leather. Definitely one of my favorites.
— a month ago

Michael Cammarata
with Michael

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

This had red & black fruits, earth, cedar, leather, sweet, savory spice with tobacco — 2 months ago

Jan, Jeroen and 10 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Incredible depth and breadth on this 25 year old. Still boasting tannins that are round and firm. Meaty, chewy and impeccable, with a bresaola nose, dried blackberry, cassis, chocolate, espresso, cedar and tobacco. Black cherry, graphite, maduro cigar, blackberry, and bay.


#pichonlonguevillebaron #pichonbaron #bordeaux #deuxiemescru #bordeauxrouge #paulliac
— 2 months ago

Bob, Daniel and 14 others liked this
ESF

ESF

👌

Robert Biale Vineyards

Black Chicken Napa Valley Zinfandel 2022

Pair with the Mongolian Pork Chop — 2 months ago

David, Joseph and 3 others liked this
Joseph Barsky

Joseph Barsky

Love Mustards and Brix!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

The 96’s are showing well this had black fruits, earth, graphite, leather, spice & tobacco — 3 months ago

David, Tom and 8 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Shay A
9.3

(Two previous 1983 vintage wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from CT).

My experiences with 1983s has been fairly positive, and this PL certainly is among the better I’ve had from the vintage. Holding color nicely with deep ruby and slight bricking around the rim. Started off a bit dense and muddled, but hit stride about 30mins later with a mix of red and black berry fruit, cassis, a streak of herbal green down the middle (something I always get with PL). Excellent example of the fruit showing lots of flavor without being overly ripe. Leather, sweet pipe tobacco, graphite, and still some vibrancy at the finish with tannin structure. Clean and elegant at this stage. Showed well over the course of two hours. Drink up and enjoy.
— 3 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 34 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Dark Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruit and floral spice, pure Caymus signature style, easy drinking, approachable as always. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry and currants with complex spice showing notes of cacao, cinnamon and rich vanilla oak. Fine soft tannins, nice mouthfeel, great balance with acidity, long finish, ending with notes of oak and mineral notes. Nice! — 4 months ago

Veronika, Paul and 1 other liked this