Brooks Note

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

This wine had some tobacco and earth FUNK after it was opened up. The herbaceous and tobacco ash note on the nose was almost identical to the 1980 Beringer State Lane cab. This did blow off after an hour, but the wine was less fruit than I thought it would have been. Lots of dark figgy jam. Tobacco and cigar box. I'm sure the fruit came back after I left, but this would have been 2 hours after opening and just didn't have the time to see this one though, hence the "NR" rating. Impressed by this wine, and probably one of the older Monte Bello wines I've been able to drink. — 8 years ago

Cantina Bartolo Mascarello

Barolo Nebbiolo 2000

2000 vintage. From Jay. 2000 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Black fruits, Black cherry with some menthol. Good sweetness on the entry. Good acidity. Weak on the rear pallet. Finish is somewhat weak. Nice ruby colour. More in the style of what Maria Teresa's father than her. Fruit is much more muted. It has integrated well over the years from the initial barnyard aromatics that it displayed when initially bottled. Drink no to 2020. 89/100 — 10 years ago

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 1999

2 Flawless bottles make for a happy girl. Acid , minerality, brioche, white flowers, almonds, slight note of apricot and citrus. — 10 years ago

Paul, Velma and 1 other liked this

Brooks Winery

Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2012

Nice acidity & tart fruit flavor. — 10 years ago

Matthew and Brooks liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Jimmy Smith
9.4

2001: going into a black olive, black truffle note. Rich meaty notes, vibrantly meated, smoky, leather, tobacco, cigar. Towards full, complex, chewy. Light liquorice, light black truffle. Tip top. — 11 years ago

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2006

look: pale ruby red core with slightly garnet rim.  medium viscosity.

smell: medium intensity aromas of roasted red bell pepper, allepo pepper flake, raspberry sauce, roasted jalapeno.  overall, sweet and ripe fruit smells followed by slight iron-like gravel note.

taste: medium + acidity, nearly high acidity, medium - tannin, flavors of smoked tomato, sour cherry, ending with a note of sweet dried/roasted pepper.  

profile: flavor is 'bursty' and drops out quickly and then hangs in a very subtle low way on the palate.  
purchased with Somm Select. honestly, it could have cellared a few more years.
— 11 years ago

Seven, Julia and 11 others liked this
Madeline Puckette

Madeline Puckette Influencer Badge

France Loire Chinon Olga Raffault 2006 'Les Picasses'
Julia Weinberg

Julia Weinberg Influencer Badge

Love these wines!

Tendril Wine Cellars

C-Note Whole Cluster Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013

My favorite Pinot in a lineup from Tony Rynders. — 8 years ago

Doug Sayed
with Doug
Doug Sayed

Doug Sayed Premium Badge

Punching way above it's vintage wieght, the whole cluster fermentation really stands out in its structure. Bravo.
9.2

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Giving absolute credence to the reputation that the wines from the Margaux commune show, both displayed an elegance allied with a subtle power and perfect balance, especially 2005.

2000 had a trace pyrazine note that I found unexpected, and quite frankly not that enjoyable. Outside of that the wine was perfect. The second bottle did not throw it as strong, so not exactly in the clear on this night.

The 2005 was in perfect shape, drink now or age it another 20 years easy, this was so enjoyable and balanced with perfect tannin integration and a seamless, dense and pure finish that sailed on forever.

#margaux #bordeaux
#wine
— 9 years ago

Eric Gonzales
with Eric
Andrew, Daniel P. and 7 others liked this

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2010

What a beauty! Creamy, defined and rich. Perfumy with flowers, mint, sweet apples, minerality and very concentrated honest power. Acidity is angular, very bright and holds this huge palate together nicely (and oh boy, I wish I had a time machine to see how it evolves in 10 years). I'm still trying to crack that dominant aftertaste note — it's almost cake-like sweet, with some nutty backbone and caramel on the top. Absolutely in love. — 10 years ago

Greg, Beau and 17 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1977

Max Kogod
9.7

1977. Floored by extreme caramel note on nose and palate completely backed up by gorgeous purity of fruit, acid, levity and all the tertiary elements that make Martha's Vyd what it is. — 11 years ago

Anthony, Bill and 11 others liked this

High Note

Elevated Uco Valley Malbec 2012

Slight fruit up front, dry finish — 11 years ago

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Kevin Walsh
8.9

2008. Dried cherry, black tea, dried mushroom and rose, prosciutto. Minerality is reminiscent of standing on a dry, dusty dirt road. Only criticism is that it falls off in the mid palate, but finishes with a nice gamey note. — 12 years ago

Misha's Vineyard Wines

The High Note Pinot Noir

2009 seems a little lighter then the last I tried good acidity — 9 years ago

Serge, Steve and 4 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2013

Very complex and delicate Chardonnay. Nice front push, dry with slight note that comes through — 9 years ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991

1991 vintage. Rating 9.4. Beautiful garnet color. Incredibly smooth. Note the fire in the background in the outdoor fireplace. Lovely evening with my beautiful wife. Life could not be better! — 10 years ago

Zachary liked this

Big Table Farm

Brooks Estate Vineyard Riesling 2012

Almost amber in color with tropical and floral nose. The color belies the fact this is not an over extracted sweet juice. Beautifully bone dry with great acidity. Super. — 10 years ago

Brooks Winery

Oak Ridge Vineyard Gewürztraminer

Awesome — even after a day open — and with some basil, squash and quinoa salad. — 10 years ago

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Une petite note d'amertume mais c'est un régal — 11 years ago

Maxime liked this

G.D. Vajra

Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2010

Great vintage, no doubt. Wild strawberry, with an almost Oriental spice note that emerges with an hour of air-one might think Burgundy. This shows great texture and nuance, certainly beyond the Nebbiolo from the same vintage. — 11 years ago