Color Block Wines

Block Nine

Caiden's Vineyards Pinot Noir 2025

Surprisingly decent. — 3 months ago

Dave 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+.
— 5 months ago

Pooneet, Jason and 23 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Deep ruby color. Red fruit, black currant, and cedar on the nose. Dry and bold. Flavors of blackberrt, chocolate, oak, and coffee. Medium+ tannins and acid with a great finish. Number 2 in top 100 in Wine Spectator. — 7 months ago

Bob, Ron and 2 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant and black plum fruit with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently outstanding vintage after vintage. Could continue to age for decades! — 8 months ago

Dave, Bob and 8 others liked this

Myriad Cellars

Esther Block Las Madres Vineyard Syrah 2023

Nice. Bit sharp at first so give it some air. Opened up nice. First time trying this but finding myself a Myriad red fan if one can get it at a reasonable price — 9 months ago

Dave, Paul and 5 others liked this

Foxen

Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Strawberry, black cherry jolly rancher, nutmeg, and earth aromas. Strawberry and cherry palate with great acidity and juicy palate. — 4 years ago

Jamie, Ira and 12 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Thought I was a Foxen, Sea Smoke and Patz & Hall fan. Guess again...generally, pretty delicious juice.

Boekenhoutskloof

The Chocolate Block Cinsault Blend 2023

Light fruity aroma, dark red, medium body, dry and succulent, dark fruit flavor, paired nicely with venison. — 4 months ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

This was a gift from a close friend who worked for Silver Oak as a garden manager until they eliminated that part of their business. Beautiful color in the glass. Ruby with a hint of rust on the edge. Aroma is complex with berries and flint. Also just a hint of pine needles. Christmas trees. Flavors are full and fine. This is BIG BOY wine. Delicious. — 4 months ago

Douglas, Tegan and 10 others liked this

Kay Brothers

Amery Vineyard Block 6 Shiraz 2004

Still looks young, high acidity keeps it fresh. So different from an Hermitage! — 7 months ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Classic. Just classic on the color and nose. On the palate it has finer tannins, lifted acidity, and a long, polished finish that lingers on cassis and earth. One of the oldest Lafite’s I’ve tasted and feels like in last another couple of decades. Easy. — 8 months ago

Ira, Peter and 20 others liked this

Carlisle Winery & Vineyards

Papa's Block Russian River Valley Syrah 2012

Ki Punwar
9.2

Love Carlisle and this is a great wine with a very floral nose of blackberry and pepper. Lush and long finish, well done Mike! — 8 months ago

Dave liked this

Bevan Cellars

Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Was hoping to like this but it was a solid if unmemorable CA Cab. Nothing much to say which is all I have to say…. — 4 years ago

Shay, Milissa and 5 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Bummer. Those are usually really enjoyable.

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot

Dark, inky color. Aromas of boysenberry jam, licorice and mossy forest floor. Black and red fruit on the palate, mocha and tobacco finish. Big and bold. — 6 years ago

Mike, Tom and 10 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

Nice selection of wines!🍷

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2006

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of slightly bruised apple, white flowers, lemon curd, brioche, slivered almond and a mix of chalk and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. I wish I could drink this all night long. Alas, only a single 750mL and not a Methuselah. Drinking well now and will only be taking on more secondary and tertiary character. But if that’s your thing (and I can get down), this will deliver well past 2036. — 4 months ago

Tom, Zach and 15 others liked this
Ely Cohn

Ely Cohn Premium Badge

@Jay Kline I’ve been saving this same bottle same vintage. Great review!
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Thanks @Ely Cohn If your bottle is anything like this one, I think you’ll be in for a treat!

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016

A medium body, bright red in color. Pleasant nose, mild. On the palate spices and bright red fruits.
Was a little off balance, maybe the specific bottle.
— 6 months ago

Tom and Dave liked this

Ghost Block

Pelissa Vineyard Zinfandel 2021

Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity on the nose, and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and easy drinking.

Showing red and black fruits with light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, peppercorn, cola, Mediterranean spices and light licorice.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Single Vineyard Zinfandel from Napa Valley. Elegant and rich. Fruit forward and complex. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with burger and fries.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.
— 8 months ago

Tom, Robin and 8 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice to see this come in under 15%. It takes thoughtfulness and care to do that amid climate change, and is particularly admirable in Napa, where wineries could easily grub up low-profit Zin vines, replace them with Cab and charge higher $$.

Hirsch Vineyards

Block 8 Pinot Noir

needed a few more years but has great structure — 9 months ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Somewhat disappointing for a great producer in a great year. Medium body medium color, dark fruit hint of tobacco.
Hopefully a few more years will improve this wine.
— 4 years ago

Michael liked this
Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips

the Beaucastel was the 2007

Wirra Wirra

Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

This is another blend. But this time it’s Cab, Syrah and Mourvèdre. — 5 years ago