90% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano. Red fruited perfume, earthy with medium plus intensity. Palate at 21 years is developed, balanced and soft with fully integrated tannins. Medium weight with declining strength to its inner core. Not near as good on the 2nd night. This aged overnight and finishes a little sour. I was going to give it 94 points but will now give 90 points. — 7 months ago
This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.
This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.
Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.
@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit. — a year ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Pretty nose with wild flowers, black fruits, light cedar, earth, Indian spices, dark coffee, tobacco leaf and herbs.
Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cedar, cooked cherries, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and earth.
Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy cherries.
This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Margaux is still so young, but drinking beautifully already. Rich and soft. Complex and interesting.
Showing good structure with a spicy nose. Needed a long time to open up properly.
This 2nd Growth Margaux is Complex and nicely balanced. Ripe and delicious now, but in your face kind of wine.
I had the 2018 not too long ago, and it was drinking better. Needs a few years to relax in the bottle. Would be nice to revisit it in 7 years, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.
A good sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in (60% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$90. — a month ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Full bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.
Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.
This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.
I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.
Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
13% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125. — 2 years ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Strong and fruity nose with ripe black fruits and chocolate notes.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry and fruit forward on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing cooked cherries, plums, black currants, coffee, light cedar, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco and chocolates.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Soft, elegant, and very impressive.
Rich, complex and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.
This 6 year old Merlot will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Drinking it with the wine maker in the winery's cellar is always a special experience.
Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$100. — 5 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Pretty nose of red and black fruits with light cedar, licorice, spices, light vanilla, herbs, tobacco leaf, chocolates and peppercorn.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, blackberries, plums, cherries, cedar, spices, toast, light vanilla, dark chocolates, earth, coffee, peppercorn and black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa valley. Complex and nicely balanced. Spicy and entertaining.
Rich and fruit forward, and not in your face kind of Napa cabernet. Elegant and fruity, yet subdued some.
Needs 2 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient.
I've had many different vintages of this wine and I really like this vintage.
Delicious now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food like BBQ Meats.
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 22 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$110. — 7 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Full bodied, smooth and soft, with medium acidity.
Showing black fruits with cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper, dark chocolates and light herbs.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a really nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. Fruit forward and spicy. Rich and elegant.
Still very young, but already delicious. A good quality wine that will continue to improve in the next 10 years.
Tangy and entertaining with nice complexity. A good sipping wine.
Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (40% new) American and French oak barrels for 15 months. Only 900 bottles made.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$80. — 2 years ago
"Odedi"
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.
Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.
Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.
Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.
A nice sipping wine.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$50. — a month ago