Black Ridge Vineyard

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant and black plum fruit with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently outstanding vintage after vintage. Could continue to age for decades! — a month ago

Dave, Bob and 8 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Another great drinking older Cali showing red, black fruit, plum with cedar, leather, sweet, savory spice & tobacco leaf — 2 months ago

Paul, Mario and 9 others liked this

Turley

Rattlesnake Ridge Howell Mountain Zinfandel 2007

Exceptionally vibrant 18 years later.

My favorite zinfandel on the planet.
— 3 months ago

Juan and Jonathan liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Pagani Ranch Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Blend 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 Pagani Ranch pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black and red fruits: mixed bramble fruit, black cherry, black pepper, red flowers, tobacco, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Yum. — 4 months ago

Zach, Paul and 10 others liked this

Black Stallion Estate Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Another vintage - still very good. Fruity with some leather and smoke. — 4 months ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

From back when Mouton was still a Second Growth. Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1966 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, blackberries, green pepper, tobacco, leather, old wood, organic earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This was a good showing for the ‘66 and certainly has life left in it however, there’s no need to hold out. Drink now. — 4 months ago

Jan, Dave and 19 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Almond butter. — 5 months ago

Andrew, jesus and 1 other liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

This seemed to be in a perfect spot showing red & black fruit, graphite, cedar, sweet savory spice, leather & tobacco — a month ago

Dave, Jean-Philip and 12 others liked this
Dave

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Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 2 months ago

Ira, Ted and 9 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Not sure I’ve had any other 2006 Bordeaux but decided to pull this to give it a go at nearly 20 years of age. Nice wine but perhaps not one that justifies the price point. At first quite tight, but after a 5 hour decant this really comes into its own. Lots of leather and dark blue and black fruit. Oak is really only apparent in structure now. Great acid. 13% which is nicely balanced. — 3 months ago

Severn, Andrew and 15 others liked this
Severn G

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Oh yeah! Our favorite S-J producer ❤️
Jay Kline

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@Severn G That’s a big statement!

Oak Ridge Winery

OZV Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2013

Dark in color. Super fruity on the nose. Blackberry and plumb notes. Peppery, leathery, earthy finish. — 4 months ago

Failla

Occidental Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Special bottling of Whole cluster. — 5 months ago

Ira liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.6

I think if you read this nonsense I post, you know how I feel about this producer, past & present. This 07 is outstanding & top of its bell curve. It is so good to revisit these great vintages of Caymus Classic.

This is fresher than the 97. It is rich/lush, cassis to currents, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, classic, beautiful, Caymus Classic spice that I miss dearly in their new wines, black licorice, fudge, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, most top soil, limestone, dry herbs, dry tobacco, barrel shavings, taut leather, volcanic grey clay, dark, fresh & slightly withering flowers, violets, beautiful round acidity, balance, structure, nice tension and elegant finish that last minutes and falls on spice and evoluted earth tones.

This bottle is in fine shape. Still strong and will last another 10 years of fine drinking. Phenomenal vintage and time to enjoy.
— 5 months ago

Rob, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Robert Biale Vineyards

Black Chicken Napa Valley Zinfandel 2023

2023 vintage. Super easy to drink and not as opulent as some previous vintages. 09.10.25. — 2 months ago

Ted, Bob and 14 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2017

One of the best zinfindel’s, dry, full bodied and a great nose, thoroughly enjoyed the complex notes in this one. 2017 is a good year right now. Aged nicely, but would love to have a few more to see how well they do in the next year or so — 2 months ago

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Diamond Collection Black Label Claret California Cabernet Sauvignon

Excellent qpr! Upon opening, it’s somewhat subdued but half an hour later, wow! What happened?! And with food, roasted red meats, hard cheeses, grilled vegetables, it really comes alive! This is as good or better than cabs costing 2-3 times as much. Great daily drinker!! — 3 months ago

Stella Rosa

IL Conte Black (L'Originale) Semi Sweet Red Blend

I really enjoyed this wine. It was the bottle that introduced me to wine drinking. A nice beginner one for me at least. — 4 months ago

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

A classic Coonawarra Cabernet nose of mint, herbs, blackberry and leafiness. Very vibrant and energetic for a 15 year old wine. Most of that carrying through to the medium to full bodied palate. One of the icons of the Australian wine scene, first produced in 1954 and one of the most collected wines in Australia. Very underpriced for its quality and pedigree. I might leave my last bottle for 5 years in its 20th year. It will easily travel the journey. — 4 months ago

Pooneet, Douglas and 20 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Still have fond memories of the 2001-2004 vintages, which I purchased and we consumed over 6-8 years. Don’t see this in the U.S. much any more.
Bob McDonald

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It’s interesting that Treasury Wine Estates who own both Penfolds and Wynns choose to push Penfolds over Wynns in the USA.

Beaux Frères

The Beaux Frères Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

[Tasted on June 7, 2025 at Noko in Nashville with Jay, and again on October 26, 2025 with Tom and Kathy at their house]

Raspberry fruit with black tea notes. Beautifully balanced.
— 5 months ago

Dave, jesus and 1 other liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2022

Lovely with a long decant — 5 months ago

Tom liked this