Chill Out

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

From back when Mouton was still a Second Growth. Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1966 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, blackberries, green pepper, tobacco, leather, old wood, organic earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This was a good showing for the ‘66 and certainly has life left in it however, there’s no need to hold out. Drink now. — 5 months ago

Jan, Dave and 19 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91.3%) and Merlot (8.7%). A bit tight and unexpressive right out of the bottle. After a 45 minute decant, this wine was awake and very alive. Dark ruby color. Aromas of graphite, forest floor, wet gravel and dark black fruit. Flavors of black currant/cherry/berry/plum, tobacco, baking spices, dark chocolate and minerals. Distinct notes of smoky oak and wet earth on the long and lingering finish. Tannins were a bit lighter than expected at first but developed with aeration. Quite savory, rich, full bodied and powerful. Beautiful texture. Exceptional (once it opened up) but not the bottle of near perfection that I had heard so much about. Thanks for sharing, Petey and Happy Birthday, Kase! — 8 months ago

Austin, DAD and 11 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

Very pleasant blend out of Pauillac; 67% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cab Franc work so harmoniously together that delivers an enjoyable medley of red berries and black currant aromas and taste. This particular wine has been aged for 18 months in 75% new wood French barrels, which shows it finesse and precision on the elegant finish and mouthfeel. Unbelievably smooth and noble on the palate. Enticing finish and incredibly structured tannins. This wine can age beautifully! — 9 months ago

Daniel liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

Bob Bath
9.2

Out of magnum — 3 years ago

Vanessa, Daniel P. and 2 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

It’s been a while. Restaurant life is tough during a pandemic. Feel things on the upswing. Broke out something fabulous. Didn’t disappoint! 2011 vintage. Beautiful fruit, texture, hints of tobacco and leather. Drinking with those I love — 4 years ago

Eric and Andrew liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Completely underrated vintage. Pleasant green notes initially, incredible depth of fruit. Mature but seems to have miles to go. Worth seeking out. — 7 years ago

Erin Jones
with Erin

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1961

We were worried this was gonna be cooked. But actually ended up being wonderful, tannins and acid mellowed out, still super balanced, slightly pyrazinic (tomato vine?), still has some leather and black currant. — 8 years ago

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Boom! From the first sip - this wine was explosive and delicious.

Dark and black fruits come out and then lend to some red fruit and while it has good depth, this wine is very smooth.

Seems like it’s in the drinking window
— 6 months ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Next level. Actually the air from the decant did it well. Could have aired it out longer but we had Warriors game to get to!!! — 7 months ago

Ted, Scott@Mister and 16 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2018

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. It’s been almost a year since my last visit with the 2018 vintage and it’s in a very pretty spot right now. All notes previously apply though I should point out that the florals are especially showy right now. The nose is simply beautiful to experience. The fruit remains fresh and mostly red fruited. The structure is still firm. Very, very easy to enjoy on its own or with a meal. Drink now through 2038+. — 8 months ago

Tom, Douglas and 16 others liked this

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2013

The goal was to only pour out half with the Coravin. This wine had other ideas. The whole Magilla came out and man was it nice. Perfectly blended and packing lots of power as well as finesse. So glad this is in its drinking window. Nice change of mix from Italian wines. — 10 months ago

Paul, Tyler and 17 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

1984, surprisingly tanic, acidic, and Heavy dried fruit, prunes and dried figs. over oxidized tasting at first but interesting. From producer to cellar at breakers in palm beach. Small leak out the bottle on one side of the cork. Over time it settles and the dried fruit subsides and then the lighter acidic flavors of fresh berries comes forward. — 4 years ago

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2003

2003. Last bottle was 3 years ago, and this one I liked better. Starts out austere with evidence of a difficult hot year. But after hours in the decanter it cycled thru some almost port like caramelized tapenades and ended the evening with a somewhat strange but delicious red crème brûlée thing. So if you have one… I suggest patience thru the awkward opening hours to get to the awkward good part. Cheers. — 4 years ago

Jason, Andrew and 11 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

Like the sippy cup! 🥤 Cheers!

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Dark ruby. Opaque. Notes of dark plums, cassis, rhubarb, tobacco. Has a green element to it. At first it’s very linear and one dimensional in the mouth but rounds out with air. Nice for the vintage. — 7 years ago

Jonathan, Brian and 7 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.5

It is really no surprise that this 05 is incredible and yet still extremely youthful. This 05 will out live almost anyone 50 years old. It is good for another 45 years.

I had their 16 La Dame last weekend & commented it should not be opened for another 10 years.

The core on the nose is dark velvet black currants. There’s a bit of melted dark chocolate-mousse. Ripe but subtle blackberries, black raspberries, black plum-plum pudding, very dark cherries, some mulberries, mocha powder, dark, rich earth, dry river stone, limestone, anise, mix of dry/fresh herbs, fine, undertone of baking spices, moist grey clay, slightly dry tobacco, sandalwood, mild, elegant spice, just the slightest hint of mint, very, slightly candied, dark, withering flowers & red roses.

The palate is rich, round with velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark fruits blended in melted dark-mocha chocolate. Blackberries, black raspberries, both plums w/ heavy skin, dark cherries, poached to slightly baked strawberries & raspberries over the top. Dry bay leaf-sage, moist clay, rich, dark, turned earth, dry river stone, limestone powder, stem inclusion, red licorice/cola, anise to black licorice candy, sandalwood to soft cedar, slightly moist tobacco, used leather, mild, dark spice, a touch & just a touch of tomato leaf, hints of cardamom, dark/red withering flowers with just a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a very well knitted, tensioned, balanced, structured, elegantly polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on nice earthiness & softly muddled spice.

Paired w/ their bone-in Ribeye. Best steakhouse steak that I’ve had out and not made by friends and or myself. Rich fat, tender and nice flavor. Lacks a bit of char and Napa Valley Rub from wholespice.com.

Open in another 15-20 years.

A real shot at a 💯 in another 15-20+.

@Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas
— 7 months ago

Peter, Paul and 23 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

The Montrose stuff is a true force of nature. That'90 vintage will outlive us all combined. Ridiculously fresh once you get past the brett.

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

Private Dinner on the beach to celebrate my wife birthday. The Ritz went out of their way to find this 2008 Opus One. Flavors just burst open after decanting. Fruit was smooth with hints of blackberry and cherry. No earthy or leather just smooth fruit front to back. — 9 months ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Joe and 12 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

Very expressive nose - chocolate, eucalyptus, and deep dark fruit. The palate is med/full and packed with dark complex cabernet flavours. The tannins are still a bit obtrusive but not out of balance with the complex fruit. A baby. — 2 years ago

Racquel N
with Racquel

Bonneau du Martray

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 1978

Slight marmalade, hints of honey. A bit like aged Chenin in character. Still fresh but a little tangy. Fleshed out — 4 years ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Jan, Bob and 9 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

This is just a delicious brut rosé, really one of the best out there that isn’t four figures...beautiful fruit that melts on your tongue, just excellent — 7 years ago

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 1990

Rich and exotic ripe but not over the top flat out delicious . Out of magnum for Heaven my Assistants b-day! — 8 years ago

Brendan, Steve and 12 others liked this