Championship Bottle

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1961

Lower level bottle but still alive and kicking . So elegant and refined with dried red flowers , mulberry , graphite , liquid minerals , burnt sugar blood orange . The palate is elegant yet powerful with tons of dry extract and a little tannins still. I imagine a perfect bottle would be truly incredible but this bottle was pretty darn good . — 4 days ago

Ira, Aravind and 4 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

The second time I get to try this lovely bottle. This was their last bottle and it was listed for a ridiculously low price of roughly €120. Same bottle, same vintage is apparently 1200USD at the French Laundry. It feels like it’s in the end of its peak. Opens strong, medium to full bodied with well integrated tannins. Deep level of complexity. Dark fruits, kirsch, salted licourice, coffee beans, dried herbs, pencil shavings, earth. The level of acidity and minerality set it apart from its Napa peers. — 22 days ago

Ron, Eric and 4 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

You are really lucky. 01 was a good vintage in Napa, too!
Adam Gäfvert

Adam Gäfvert Premium Badge

@Ron R wish I had more to try!

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2000

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. The first half of the bottle was enjoyed on Day 1 and the second half was enjoyed on Day 3. Best on day three when it freshened up and had time to stretch its legs. The 2000 Tignanello pours a deep garnet color with a slight orange-ish rim; slightly turbid with an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, deep ripe, black cherry fruit with leather, pipe tobacco, teriyaki, espresso, and earth. On the palate the fruit and non-fruit characteristics are confirmed. The wine is dry with medium+ tannin (which has all but integrated) and medium acid. Finish is medium+. A lovely 23 year old Tig that, remarkably, benefits from a good breather to get its best. Drink now with an extended decant but will continue to hold for at least another 5-10 years given good cellar conditions. — 10 days ago

Shay, Brian and 13 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Very good accomplishment by Pontet-Canet from this overseen vintage. Magnum bottle. — 11 days ago

LM, "Odedi" and 5 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

It’s been about a year since my last bottle of the 14 Howell. Comments remain the same. Even with a brief 30 min decant it’s drinking well. Tannins softening nicely, fruit still ripe and strong, well balanced. Will aim to keep trying a bottle each year and see how it evolves. — 2 days ago

Eddie and Paul liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

I have a feeling this may be the most significant bottle of wine I’ve ever had. — a month ago

Vanessa, Jose and 20 others liked this
vinokeeno

vinokeeno

Hahahahhahahahaahhaahhaaaaaa!

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1951

Tasted blind. Dark reddish tawny, almost opaque. "Wild ass nose" my notes say. Notes of red fruit, plums, spice, moist earth, a little mocha and some old leather. Lively fruit matched with a nice structure. I'm in old Bordeaux land with my guess of 61 Mouton. Table talk points out how ultra rare this bottle is, with those in the know viewing it as one of the best CA cabs ever made. Hard for me to argue that as it sits next to the 74 Heitz MV and goes toe to toe with it all night. — 18 days ago

Shay, Sharon and 15 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Cassis, blackcurrants, cigar box in this lovely, still youthful Bordeaux, really nice balance, seems very fresh still, long finish, terrific bottle!! — 4 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Ira, Severn and 12 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

'90 ♥️

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2016

Was excellent but not to its usual standards. Half bottle. Which might explain ? — 2 months ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Severn and 5 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2018

Popped and poured. The 2018 Produttori del Barbaresco classico pours a garnet color with a transparent core; slightly orange around the rim. Medium+ viscosity with very light staining of a tears; no signs of sediment. On the nose, a mix of deep black and red fruits and wow…loads of tar. It’s bone dry, high tannin and medium+ acid. High alcohol. This is a tar bomb right now and the structure is absolutely monumental. The first time I drank the 2018 Nebbiolos from Piemonte, I thought they reminded me a lot of the 2010 vintage when it was young. And when I think about Produttori specifically, this bottle really reminds me of the way the 2010 drank around 5 years after vintage. Only time will tell if these follow a similar trajectory…but I suspect, yes. Drink now but expect a pile of tannin for at least the next 5-10 years and they should drink well for at least 20. — 9 days ago

Romain, LM and 14 others liked this