Charter Oak

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Oak Knoll District Chardonnay 2023

Beautiful and light on its feet. Dry - very well made! Fantastic fruit. Very fresh. Honey. Meyer lemon, mandarine, just a faint touch of 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) aka Diesel. Touch bitter on the back palate. As a chemist i just had to bring this up. At 24 suns in Oceanside. 2 Michelin Chefs cooking. Grab this bargain before it is gone!!!!!! — 2 months ago

Tom and Shay liked this

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Crafted by Joseph J. Wagner, 4th generation winemaker, with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tea and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of jammy blackberry and cherry with pronounced sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 2 months ago

Rob, Jonathan and 3 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022

Really good Chardonnay, strong flavor of green apple and hints of lemon. Well balanced with oak. No butter flavor which leaves this very crisp. — 2 months ago

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Reserve Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Deep ruby color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and earthy notes. Plum, cherry and oak on the palate. So good! — 3 months ago

Tom, Ron and 7 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Deep ruby color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and boysenberry with hints of mocha. Licorice, dark chocolate and oak flavors. — 3 months ago

Tom, Tom and 6 others liked this

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2016

Presented double-blind. The wine pours a light straw color with medium viscosity and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of apple, pear, underripe pineapple, lemon curd, nuts and minerals. I felt like there was some deft use of oak. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+, bordering on high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and chocked full of minerals. My immediate impression was Bourgogne Blanc and I was having a hard time getting away from it. So I called Chardonnay, from France, Burgundy, Chassagne-Montrachet with 3-5 years of age. Gosh dammit! Margaret River strikes again!!! Blind, I always seem to call these Chablis or some other high quality white Burg. And I adore the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnays. They always impress me. Drink now through 2036. — 4 months ago

"Odedi", Jeroen and 11 others liked this

Oak Ridge Winery

Reserve Ancient Vine Zinfandel 2019

This is a very distinctive, powerful and deep Zinfandel from Lodi, California. Vertically Sourced and produced by Oak Ridge from its own ancient +100-year-old vines. It packs tons of dark cherry and berries and is very chocolaty, since this is a reserve version, the lingering oak and texture is very long but not overwhelming. — 5 months ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

In its prime, tannins are rounded, good body. Just a little too much vanilla/oak for my taste. — 2 months ago

Tom and Ira liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2013

Tasting notes during visit to the winery where absolutely everything is done in-house by hand; preserving centuries old winemaking traditions. Bosconia is a delicate wine highlighted by persistent tones of red berries and bright acidity with integrated tannins closing with medium but lingering finish.

No stainless steel here. The juice is fermented in old large wooden “tinas,” then transferred to American oak barrels (made in house to lighter toast specifications), underground in their +100 year old cellars for at least a year. After that it is bottled and stored in the same underground cellars and finally released about ten years later. Learning about their curated winemaking process was inspiring.
— 2 months ago

Ted, Paul and 12 others liked this

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Not remembering how I acquired this bottle. One & done…nothing impressive about this wine….maybe past its prime? — 3 months ago

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Oak Knoll District Dry Riesling 2023

Bright silver/gold color. Aromas of lemon candy, apple, white flowers and lime. Expressive flavors of lemon, tropical fruit, Granny Smith apple and peaches. Hint of fresh herbs on the medium-plus finish. Mouth watering acidity and excellent balance. Pleasant mouthfeel and aftertaste. So flavorful, bold and well crafted. Heard very good things about Trefethen Dry Riesling and I am glad I finally tried it. Unique Riesling style. — 3 months ago

Austin, Tom and 2 others liked this

Marqués de Riscal

Reserva Herederos del Marques de Riscal Rioja Tempranillo 2020

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2020 Reserva pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart dark fruits: blackberry, black cherry, toasted coconut, dill, vanilla, wood, and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Already balanced but the oak is playing a significant role at this stage (this is traditionally made Rioja Reserva we’re talking about). There is plenty of stuffing however and I expect this will become even more balanced with some time on its side. Want to see a wine under $20 that can age for 30 years? Welp, here you go. Drink now through 2050. — 3 months ago

Douglas, Juan and 13 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2019

Exotic red fruit notes. Red and black raspberry w exotic spice, earthy flavors. A lot of nice Oak influence. Very nice balance. Quite a lot of tannins. Can use more time in the bottle, but, already delicious.
Fantastic Rioja wine. Love it.
$26
— 4 months ago

Abbas, Ray and 5 others liked this

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Mid 20th century fashionable country resort, popular with Hollywood due to 1892 stone Manor House & historic gardens. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, rest other Rhone varieties, aged 20 months in 37% new French oak. Dark Ruby, aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs & spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and black currant with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Well balanced, fine tannins long finish ending with fruit, espresso notes and sweet spice! Nice now and will drink well over next decade. — 2 months ago

Paul, Juan and 2 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Deep Ruby with aromas of blue & black fruits, sweet spice & slight mineral character. A blend of mostly Cab Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot & Cab Franc from their estate-owned Napa Valley vineyards, aged 18 months French (62%) & American oak (38%) (about 50% new). Palate, complex flavors, blackberry, plums & cherry with sweet spice, oak & tobacco notes. Well balanced with good acidity & developing tannins. Full-bodied, long finish ending with pepper & wood spice. Nice! — 2 months ago

Neil, Joe and 4 others liked this

Grgich Hills Estate

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

The “King of Chardonnay” Mike Grgich farms w/o pesticides and certified organic. Aged 10 months, no MLF. Medium lemon color with aromas of ripe stone & citrus fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, apricot & citrus flavors, with honeysuckle & toasty oak notes. Good balance with acidity on medium+ finish ending with mineral notes. Not your typical CA Chard! — 2 months ago

Tom, Juan and 2 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and half a % each of Malbec and Merlot, aged 15 months in 33% new French oak, 51% of fruit from Atlas Peak District, deep Ruby with aromas of vibrant dark fruit, sweet spice and herbs. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with tobacco spice, toasty oak, cinnamon and floral notes. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, cedar, mocha and mineral character, Nice, should age well. — 3 months ago

Juan, Andrew and 7 others liked this

Rombauer Vineyards

Carneros Chardonnay 2022

Founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer and sits on a tree covered knoll overlooking the Napa Valley, with caves that extend for over a mile. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruit, sweet oak, spice and floral scents. On the palate flavors of ripe peach, melon and apple, with vanilla spice, creamy texture. Medium+ finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with mineral notes. — 3 months ago

Tom, Anthony and 4 others liked this

La Finca

Oak Aged Mendoza Malbec

Josh loves this. Had it at Main Prospect in Southampton m — 6 months ago