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Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(lots of sediment). A gorgeous purplish garnet color. On the nose: Intoxicating musky notes of dark fruit, potting soil, worn leather, truffles, stewed meat, slight menthol. Taste: velvety, seamless, balanced, intense wine with dark fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, mineral, herbs, and a chocolate graphite long never-ending finish. YUM! This wine has aged gracefully and has more gas in the tank. Enjoy. — 6 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 12 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2001

Dark rubi robe with a purple hue, not showing its 25 years. Nose is very evolved and more on secondary notes. Big disappointment on the mouth, very evolved and lacking complexity for such a stellar reputation. A good bottle that is not worth the price tag… — 8 months ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Jamie and 7 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

Somm David T
9.5

Fruit is brighter, more brilliant than many other 21’s I’ve had. Texturally & fruit-wise senses more like the 23’s I’ve had. It’s gorgeous. Again, needs a decade or more in the cellar.

Round, lush, creamy blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, poached strawberries, dry, crushed rocks, limestone powder, nice balling spices, caramel, mocha, dry herbs, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry river stone, leather, melted, dark chocolate, dark spice, fresh & withering dark flowers, red roses, nice round acidity, well balanced, bigger tension & structure, excellent round, excellent finish that last minutes and lands on spice, wet clay and Christmas cake.
— 9 months ago

Tom, Juan and 19 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2015

New Years Eve dinner - which red wine to drink?! 🤔
Finally settled on an old favorite - Paul Jaboulet Hermitage.
Did not disappoint - smooth, concentrated fruits, with a hint of earthy, charcoal, tobacco.
Nice way to end our wine drinking for 2025, here’s to more great wines in 2026! 🥂
— 9 months ago

Neville Weston
with Neville
Joseph, Dave and 10 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Burst of blackberry aroma, earthy and smoky, with a hint of cigar aftertaste. Juicy and delicious, more than held its own with the Lafite Rothschild we also had at same dinner! — 10 months ago

Joel liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

The first couple times I tried 08 I was definitely too quick to judge. It needs a ton of air, and it’s different from the rich, oxidative, nutty house style of the past, particularly the warm and ultra forward 2006, the previous release. 2008 is indeed young, tightly wound with a pulsating core of energy.

The first glass offers very little. Subdued, austere and youthfully reserved. But ensuing pours eventually unleash its core of powerful clean orchard fruit, coffee bean and grilled nuts. On the palate it continues to become so much more textural with crazy gains in weight, depth and fruit intensity as the night goes on. It really fills the mouth, saturating the palate with a satin-like texture, ripping citrusy acids and saline laced minerals that follow deep into its finish. Enjoyable now with enough air (needs 2 hours), but no doubt one to hold. To live forever.
— 4 years ago

Jan, Shay and 6 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

More charming, delicate, and classically styled than the 00/01. I preferred it but was in the minority. — 9 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Wow. More flavor, much better than their regular cab. Silky, velvet, smooth. Chocolate. Rich fruit. Big, full flavor, lots of flavor. Not old world style for sure, not subtle. It's a big bomb. We would pay up to $75 for this so a bit overpriced to us.
— 10 years ago

Roy, Jerry and 3 others liked this

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013

Pinot noir vintage 2013. This is very special and elegantly smooth. Bright berry flavors and hmmm just perfect. More please. — 11 years ago

Ricardon liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2007

Classic Musar complexity on the nose. Not as tannic as the 2005 and a bit more approachable than the last vintage. Lots of black fruits. Still lots of ageing potential. — 12 years ago

Gavin, Natan and 1 other liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

I will start by saying that Hillside Select is a great wine and suggesting otherwise sounds rediculous. That said I was hoping for more punch here and I think the 13yrs just tamed it more than I expected. It just seemed a bit muted to me and while I gave it some time/air it didn’t really open up that much more. — 6 months ago

Bob, Dave and 10 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2019

Beautiful wine full of fruit and structure. The nose is delicate but I am pulling baking spices, violets and dark fruits. This wine brings balance and finesse that can easily go many more years. Tannins are elegant but strong, not grippy but structured. Delicious leading with dark cherry but developing into an elegant display of terroir and artistry!! Enjoy!! — 7 months ago

"Odedi" liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2014

Wine of the night and more. An incredible example of how good Morgon can be. Complexity, length, structure, and the rest. — 8 months ago

Sarah Bignami
with Sarah
Doug, John and 17 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Presented to me, double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears, and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of ripe and desiccated, mostly dark fruits: cassis, black cherry, plum, mixed brambles, old leather, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (that is mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend, Tempranillo (or based blend) or Grenache-based blend from France, Spain or the United States. I feel like this leans more towards its fruit than its structure, even though it is a fairly well balanced wine in both regards. As a result, I am calling this a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain from a producer like Dunn, 2006. Shiiiiiit. To be honest, I’m not terribly surprised since this is Cos and from a warm vintage no less. Drinking well now and should through 2050+.
— 9 months ago

Pooneet, Jason and 23 others liked this

Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy

Camp Gros Martinenga Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2018

Mein erster Marchesi di Gresy. Und nach dem jetzigen abend nicht mein letzter! Ribes, waldkirsche, tabak, thymian, rauchig, etwas caramel, komplex, langer abgang! — 9 months ago

Xenia Zollinger
with Xenia
Andrew and Tegan liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

The majestic 2016 Las Cases is one for the ages. This ultra complex and ultra appealing wine is already captivating and will very obviously have many decades to shine. You get currants, blackberries, salmiak, violets, tobacco, rosemary, pink pepper, soil and so much more. The texture gradually becomes creamier with fine tannins and fresh and long finish. Will become a perfect wine eventually. — 3 years ago

Joe, Ericsson and 7 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1988

Deep color. More open than the 1990. Stronger fruit profile with herbs and almost a minty nose. Full body and lingers for a while. — 7 years ago

Frankie Cohen
with Frankie
Keith, Mike and 15 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1947

This has always been superior in magnum and this one only reinforced the impression. Still powerful, extracted and opulent. Intoxicating qualities aromatically; leafy forest floor, truffles, but also still, ripe black fruits and some gamey, smokehouse umami. A dreamy finish. I'll wait 10 more years before I open another... — 10 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Me,..I'm a fan of the Alexander Valley Silver Oak, over the Napa Silver Oak. Something about what the cooler Alexander Valley climate does to the intensity of the fruit and perhaps a little more earth than Napa. — 11 years ago

Ryan liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Pickled grapes, candied nuts, currants, oak on the nose. Juicy! Blackberries, oaky tannins, herbs with some fresh vegetables (mint, pepper, thyme). Drinking fantastically with more life left! — 12 years ago

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1983

Andrew Holod
9.3

Vega Sicilia Unico '83. Showing some warm fruits, beginning of tertiary character. Quite complex, but can definitely improve with more bottle age. — 13 years ago

Mark and Scott liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Such different styles...this is definately more fruit forward. Both excellent wines. Great drinking them together — 7 months ago

Douglas, Dave and 30 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2002

Was maybe expecting a bit more from this. Think the bottle might have been just slightly off but still excellent. — 7 months ago

Tom, Peter and 16 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later.
— 8 months ago

Peter, Scott@Mister and 16 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T A wonderful story David and I can see how you could fall in love with that photo of the Chateau.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Bob McDonald Thank you. Cheers! 🍷

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

It was more subdued than I expected. I tend to like the Merlot heavy Bordeaux but this one was still a bit muted. Perhaps it needs more time even though it’s well in its recommended range. Dark and heavy. Solid but left me underwhelmed. Decanted. Better after an hour. — 9 months ago

Robin, Tom and 18 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 1979

Paler colour than the 76 , medium old gold colour . Quite a lot of bubbles still. This shows much more linear and mineral , quite chalky on the nose and palate but has enough fresh lemon tinged fruits to cover the bones . This is fresher and younger on the palate than the 76 . Long more focused on the finish, higher acidity . This is perfect now and over the next 5-10 years I would imagine . Very much alive and vivid for a Champagne of this age. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister, ESF and 9 others liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay

Brett and delicious — makes you want more with each sip — 7 years ago

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2007

Charming, textbook mature Chinon with freshly ground black pepper and barely ripe raspberry. With air, a more exotic spice profile unfurls alongside earthy and floral flourishes. Fresh and lively in the mouth, with lightly gripping tannins promising another decade of aging potential. A compact wine, but complex, and complete from nose to finish. Imported by Louis Dressner, this vintage was purchased recently at Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville, VA. — 9 years ago

Anthony, Saman and 3 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2005

Classic Gran Reserva. Nose is leather and oak. Complex in the mouth with leather, oak, clove, cinnamon, tobacco, fig and a hint of blue cheese. It finishes with more oak, medium acid and chewy tannins. A lovely dark, blood red color to boot. At a meal, this is the main course. Me gusta. — 10 years ago

Susan Cahoon
with Susan
James liked this

Flowers Vineyard & Winery

Camp Meeting Ridge Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 1997

Wow! Bright yellow sun gold hues. Smells are herbaceous and iron driven with notes of warm yellow fleshed tomatoes and beeswax. Taste is bright with present salivating acids. Salty notes of sea coast must. — 11 years ago

Chantal Forthun
with Chantal
Anthony, A. and 4 others liked this