Clay Creek Vineyards

Alban Vineyards

Patrina Alban Estate Syrah 2010

Somm David T
9.2

I like the Patrina for its quality and QPR. Its quality is not all that far from the Reva but, about half price.

I also find the roasted or roasted chestnut quality I find in Rostaing wine out of Rhone. It is my belief, they have more or less styled their wines from Rostaing.

The nose reveals; dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, baked, spiced plum, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, blue, dark flowers with greens topped of with field of lavender.

The body is rich, lush and full. The tension, structure, length and balance are about five years from its peak. The tannins round yet, grainy and speak to another 10 years of excellent drinking ahead. Dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, ripe; purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries & baked, spiced plum. Anise to black licorice, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil with clay mixed in, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, candied, purple, blue & dark florals with greens topped of with field of lavender. The acidity balances the alcohol like a waterfall over the palate. The long, ruby, ripe, slightly candied, well balanced finish slides into dry tannins & earth and persists several minutes.

Paired well with our slightly spicy Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Skews, Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Green Beans.

Photos of; the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban and imagery inside their barrel room.
— 6 years ago

Shay, Ron and 18 others liked this

Domaine Henri Boillot

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2011

Straw gold. Distinct and vibrant in the glass. Notes of sweet lemon, stone, white flowers, clay dust and a little ginger spice. Rich in the mouth. Long finish coats the palate. Very nice. Needs more time on its side to gain some complexity. — 7 years ago

Shay, Eric and 9 others liked this

Château Poujeaux

Moulis en Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Lovely wine.
Nice nose, laidback and relaxed, soft earthy palate, black tea, olives, clay, dark fruit, tannines all integrated.
— 8 years ago

Marc, Amr and 8 others liked this

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

#KWN Wine 3. From the get-go, clearly had some age to it. Exhibits initial cherry fruit, which immediately falls into the background. Secondary flavors of leather, forest floor and clay quickly overtake the palate. A Smoky finish with hints of eucalyptus. Opened up nicely over a couple of hours. Magical. — 9 years ago

Andrew, Anthony and 1 other liked this

Château Haut-Bergey

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

John L
9.0

Complex dark fruit, leather and clay-gravel. Pairs well with grilled lamb steak. — 10 years ago

John liked this

Louis Latour

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2011

David Singer
9.0

From 1/2 bt. Much better as it warms up. Honeyed Bosc pear, Creme brûlée, clay, limestone. Solid complexity and length. $65 at legal seafood, what a steal — 11 years ago

Michel Loriot

Apollonis Cuvee Authentic Meunier Brut Champagne Blanc de Noir

Red apples, cranberries, spices, clay, white flowers. Earthy. Med+ acidity. — 6 years ago

Ron, P and 8 others liked this

Wm. Harrison Vineyards & Winery (William Harrison)

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Ready to rock and roll. Blackberry and red clay on the nose. Entry of black cherry and cola with acidic character. Middle is dark, smoky, leather, more blackberry and hint of cocoa. Still finishes with a young semi sweet baking chocolate and Rutherford dust! Black pepper finish is unmistakable with a ton of black fruit, and plenty of life left. Dang. — 6 years ago

P, Ryan and 15 others liked this

Pétrus

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend

No tasting notes necessary. Almost unreal flavor, textures capable of restructuring your brain cells. This wine almost ruined me by raising the bar impossibly high for everything else that followed. Now regretting I sold my double magnum of '70 in 1997. "Dark chocolate-covered berries, fresh moss, leathery clay bound in a sensory rush that lingers all evening". This is what separates the classics from so many wines; One thinks of it and can taste it for the rest of your life. — 7 years ago

Brian and LM liked this

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Red Rock Terrace Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

This was a tuff year, with lots of rain and cool summer. Cassis, blackberries, with an intense dark Ruby color. Lots of minerals, clay, evergreen notes, smooth tannins. A little bit of vanilla on the finish. Great bottle for "Technical Year". — 9 years ago

La Ferme de Suzon

Red Clay 2014

Great chilled!!! — 9 years ago

Azienda Agricola COS

Pithos Rosso Vittoria Nero d'Avola Frappato 2012

Drank at Sportello with Ev. Aged in clay pots — 11 years ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.1

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The fruits are dark & muted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, plums with strawberries come on late. Lots of moist clay, dry soils, deep dark spice, crushed, rock powder, graphite, black, dry soils, hints of green bell pepper, dry herbs with blue, dark withering flowers. The acidity is round but could be better. The long finish is balanced but, for me, comes up short and a little flat.

Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet.
— 6 years ago

Ryan, Severn and 23 others liked this

Celler del Roure

Vermell Grenache Mando 2016

Softly aromatic, ripe strawberry, clay, tobacco, nice acidity — 7 years ago

Elk Cove Vineyards

Clay Court Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2015

Full bodied, earthy pinot. Tart and crisp with and round and buttery finish. Fantastic. — 7 years ago

Domaine François Raveneau

Monts Mains Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2005

Light gold. Silky in the glass. Textbook Raveneau nose with notes of light apricot, lime blossom, white clay, honey and brown spice. Round and vibrant in the mouth. Long finish. Still young but the vintage remains approachable at age 13. Two bottles paired well with our Oysters Rockefeller course for a group. — 8 years ago

Eric, Shay and 12 others liked this
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

super note and wine. 05 has really firmed up, solid now.

Crystallum

Clay Shales Overberg Chardonnay 2014

A personal favourite. Untouchable. — 9 years ago

Jen Drabble
with Jen

Terroir al Límit

Les Manyes Priorat Garnatxa Negra

Cool site Garnacha grown on clay limestone (unusual for Priorat). Meaty, flesh, leathery, earthy, spices, dried roses, citrus peel. Deeply layered and would be a blast with age. — 10 years ago

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2002

Black cherries, plums, clay, soil, dried herbs, plant stems, iron. Acid driven with smooth tannins. — 11 years ago