Contentious Character

Achával-Ferrer

Quimera Mendoza Malbec Blend 2021

A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, aged in French oak 65% new and 35% 1 year old, fruit sourced from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — 7 months ago

Anthony, Tom and 1 other liked this

Walter Hansel Winery

Cahill Lane Vineyard Chardonnay 2020

From 100% Wente clones that get max hang time, large and tiny berries packed together, pale lemon with subtle aromas of citrus and stone fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, lemon and lime flavors, crisp acidity, long finish ending with rich mineral character. Perfect now! — a year ago

Ira, Jake and 3 others liked this

Château Talbot

Saint-Julien Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Starts off with a very evolved fruity character, but that quickly blows off.
Lovely purity beyond that - fresh black currant, with a bit of darker, earthy undergrowth, some red fruit, a hint of cedar wood, a touch of bell pepper. A bit evolved yet still juicy & pure.
Beautiful mouthfeel with nicely evolved, slightly mellowed yet still juicy tannins, evolved fruit yet still fresh acidity.
This is peeking or already has peeked but today is drinking so nicely!
A really nice one!
— 2 years ago

Daniel and Ira liked this

Chalk Hill

Estate Bottled Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc with 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas (prior to ‘18 vintage some Semillon added). Pale lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! Very consistent! — 3 years ago

Ron, Juan and 10 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2019

About 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, aged about 8 months on 1/3 new oak with 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of ripe stone fruits with slight honey oak scents. On palate complex flavors of ripe apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, will age well. — 3 years ago

Juan, Alex and 11 others liked this

Grgich Hills Estate

Fumé Blanc Napa Valley Dry Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Pale lemon with complex aromas of fresh ripe citrus and tropical fruits with herbal mineral notes. Pineapple and orange citrus flavors adding grapefruit, melon & peach tones, great acidity balance, rich & smooth, long finish ending with rich bright mineral character. Nice! Had this several times, consistent quality. Short-term aging will benefit. Just outstanding — 4 years ago

Milissa, Sharon and 8 others liked this

Bergström Wines

Cumberland Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2017

Family-owned and operated started in 1999 by Dr John and Karen Bergstrom. Medium Ruby with fresh ripe berry fruit flavors, tea and floral spice notes. On the palate, cherry, cranberry and raspberry flavors with complex herb and orange citrus notes. Fine tannins on long finish ending with slight citrus character. Drink now while it’s fresh, will benefit from short-term aging. I like ‘17 better than ‘16. — 5 years ago

Juan, Paul and 8 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. The 1985 is lovely and came more than willing, with a mix of tart, ripe and desiccated red fruits, Montmorency cherries, red currants, graphite, toasted coconut, leather and nuts. There was a slightly sherried character early on the nose but the structure seemed to defy age. No need to cellar further as this is delicious now and well stored examples should continue to be through 2030+. — 8 months ago

Jan, Ira and 12 others liked this

Domaine Coillot

La Charme aux Prêtres Marsannay Pinot Noir 2018

Established in the village of Marsannay in the 1960's by Bernard Coillot, father of owner Christophe Coillot. Deep Ruby red color with aromas of berry fruit and gentle spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with notes of fig, mushroom and spice. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Daniel, Daniel P. and 3 others liked this

Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga

Riserva Rancia Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2017

Dark, a bit brooding, with pure dark cherry, a bit of tomato leaf, dried herbs, shrub, a hint of undergrowth. Great freshness.
Amazing flow on the palate. Great purity of fruit, the tannins juicy & beautifully polished, nice energy & balance.
Depth, character, nice complexity yet so drinkable. Love the dark cherry paired with savoury roast, herby hints.
A truly lovely wine!
— 3 years ago

Lyle, "Odedi" and 5 others liked this

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 — 3 years ago

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

Vietti

Cascinetta Vietti Moscato d'Asti 2020

Pale lemon with aromas of pronounced ripe stone and tropical fruits and floral notes wrapped in a frizzante. On the palate flavors of peach, apricot and mango with notes of white floral. Good balance with lively acidity, medium finish ending with ripe fruit character. Nice! — 3 years ago

Andrew, Josh and 4 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2018

Delectable Wine
9.5

Brilliant ruby. Smoky, mineral-tinged aromas of raspberry, cherry preserves, garrigue and exotic spices show excellent clarity and acquire a gamy nuance as the wine opens up. At once rich and energetic in character, offering well-concentrated red berry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a sweetening touch of candied lavender. Shows fine definition and finishes gently, spicy and impressively long, with repeating florality and steadily building tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, October 2021)
— 4 years ago

Bodegas y Viñedos Alion

Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo 2014

Made by famous Vega Sicilia estate. Deep Ruby with an array of aromas, dark fruits, spice, floral and some oak, aged for about 14 months in French oak, mostly new. On the palate flavors of juicy ripe blackberry currants, blueberry & plum with mocha, espresso and licorice wrapped in oak. Firm round taut tannins, great balance with acidity, full body, long finish ends with fruit, oak, spice, and mineral character. Almost starting to open, definitely needs more time! Will age a decade or more!! — 4 years ago

Jason, Alex and 5 others liked this

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2011

Typical nose of an Art Series Chardonnay with that dried pear character. On the medium weight palate a nice combination of ripe grapefruit and under ripe yellow peach. Medium minus acid. One can’t help but love this Chardonnay. A wonderful terroir, the Gin Gin clone, great winemaking, and an excellent vintage - ticks all the boxes. At its peak but enough acid for a few more years if you wish. That was my last bottle of the 2011. — 9 months ago

Andrew, Ray and 23 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, that property (location) is so, so beautiful!! And the wines are of course great as well!!
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers Yes Doug. A good spot for lunch as well where you can get some seriously aged Art Series Chardonnay to go with your fresh WA Marron. Mouth watering just thinking about that.

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2018

Exceptional quality for the price. Bright and deep ruby color. Intense aromas of vanilla, baking spices, black cherry/raspberry and fresh herbs. The same black fruit on the palate along with hints of caramel and chocolate. A nice and long finish. Tangy acidity. Beautiful balance. So much character. Time to stock up! — 2 years ago

Bob, Paul and 5 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 1998

Kicking off birthday weekend with my first Musar experience. Sadly the cork did not hold up but after lots of straining I have some drinkable wine. The nose is extraordinary. Bordeaux profile with pencil shavings and tobacco leaf and a rich dark chocolate. Very expressive. On the palate this wine is mature and beautiful. Mostly aged Bordeaux character but there’s a mix of red cherry fruit and a touch of mint or menthol. Perfect drinking window as a lot of tertiary flavors are driving and the tannins are present but softened by age. — 3 years ago

Ira, Philip and 9 others liked this
Jay Kline

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If you don't mind me asking, what was the color like? The last '98 I had was quite pale...much more than I expected. Wondering if the bottle I had was flawed.
Jason Gelman

Jason Gelman

@Jay Kline of course - it was consistent with an aged bordeaux. a little faded and lighter but wouldn’t describe as pale
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Figured. Thanks for the feedback. I need to revisit 1998

Shafer Vineyards

Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2016

Much better than I was expecting...clearly some high toast oak in there, which lent this an almost charry character, but some ripe sweet lemon and citrus behind. Ok acidity, i.e., not nearly as soupy as expected. — 4 years ago

Severn, Jason and 8 others liked this

Château Langoa Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Blend of 54% Cab Sauv, 34% Merlot & 12% Cab Franc. Deep Ruby with aromas of pronounced dark fruits, sweet spice, floral and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum with notes of cacao, cedar and subtle herb spice. Well balanced with acidity, fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cedar and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 4 years ago

Alex, Andrew and 6 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Two Creeks Vineyards Pinot Noir 2017

Just had to try another bottle!!Ruby with red fruit aromas and spicy herb floral notes, aged for 10 months in 40% new French oak. On the palate fresh black raspberry and cherry flavors with herb tea and earthy tones. Firm fine tannins, balanced acidity, nice mouthfeel, long finish ending with earthy mineral herb character. Nice! Paired well with a spicy seared sushi grade tuna with spicy peanut dressed sesame soy sauce. Wow!! — 5 years ago

Alex, Clive and 4 others liked this