Scott Petrus

9.1

So funky and so fresh. — 3 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.6

The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.

Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)

Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...

Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.

Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.

This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.

I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Annual guys WTF Christmas party with spouses. Lots of great wine. I’ll post my highlights with pics I got.

Absolutely delicious and in the zone! So much depth and complexity on the nose and palate. Smoked brisket and bacon fat, small hint of olive tapenade, baked mixed berry pie, and sandalwood jump from the glass. Didn’t want to put it down! Richly textured on the palate with sweet smoke, espresso, dark cocoa, blueberries, blackberries, and savory peppercorn. So much going on here. Thanks @Bill Makens . — 6 years ago

with Jack, Steve and 6 others

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.2

In the zone, drinking better with some air. Not as fresh or zippy as I would’ve thought, but happy nonetheless — 7 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.0

Pretty decent Tuesday night wine for under 15$. Balanced but not long, with some integrated earthy notes. — 7 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.5

In the zone! — 8 years ago

with Daniel Khasidy

Bassel Sommelier

9.2

Massive just delicious — 8 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

Tasted & immediately looked up what I had bought, $50.00 but so worth it.
K&L notes,

This is no cheap rosé, it's true. But consider, for a minute, that this is no simple quaffer of a pink wine. It hails from Palette, one of the smallest appellations in all of France. It is, in a sense, a sort of Provençal monopole, since Château Palette owns nearly all the acreage in this tiny 23-hectare zone. Their vines are old, too. In some cases, more than 100 years old. The red grapes are the usual suspects for this part of France: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah with small amounts of Cinsault, Carignane, and other local varieties. But at Simone, they translate into a rosé unlike any other. We're talking power here, and a certain something serious. The rosé is fermented in small foudres and is then racked into barriques and left on the lees until the following spring. Rich with raspberries and herbs, this mouth-filling rosé holds onto its natural acidity, as it does not undergo malolactic fermentation thanks to the very cool cellars of this historic chateau. This wine costs as much as many reds. Fortunately, it has the concentration and complexity to go along with the price. Serve it with serious food and be prepared to broaden your appreciation of what rosé can be.
Related items click to collapse contents
— 3 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.3

Delicious. In the zone. Anise, kirsch, garrigue. Full. — 5 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

Excellent CC. In the zone. Just lovely. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.6

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

In. The. Zone. The first of five mind blowing reds. This, to me, epitomizes first growth version of Bordeaux. In fact, I called this Napa royalty style first growth style. It is dusty and just starting to channel some herbal and leather notes, but the density and purity/softness of the fruit (still quite dark, hint of red fruit), scream older Napa Cab. Added notes of fig, leafy tobacco, and truffled dark cocoa. Wonderful! — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 14 Almaviva Cabernet is 68% Cabernet, 22% Carménère and 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vines are 38 years of age. The wine spent 18 months in 75% new oak. The nose shows some slight funk at first. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black cherry cola/licorice and dark florals. The M+ tannins are soft and a little sticky. The fruits are slightly candied in style. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark chocolate, soft leather, crushed rocks, dark moist turned earth and dark fresh florals. The structure, length, tension, balance and finish are quiet beautiful. Producer history and notes...Almaviva began in 1997, as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. With the strengths of both families pedigree, they achieved international recognition with the the launch of their very first vintage. Their goal was to create the equivalent of Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé in Chile. Patrick Leon is their Winemaker and also makes Opus One & Mouton Rothschild. Almaviva is located in the Maipo Valley in Chile's central zone. Puente Alto has ideal conditions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Almaviva has 85 hectares. The climatic features of Puente Alto include its; stony soil, cold, rainy winters, and the hot days and cool nights of its summers. Maipo is considered Chile’s Napa Valley.
— 8 years ago

Jason Sliwa

9.5

This was in the Zone. Supple tannins, rich fruit, clean acidic finish. So happy to hit on it since others of same producer and year tried at other times didn’t impress the same way. — 4 years ago

with Vicki and Eli

Martin Sher

9.4

Give Sequel some time and it will sing for you. This one was right in the zone - beautiful dark blue/black fruit, a little earth. Concentrated stuff. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Ultra perfumed, expressive and alluring bouquet. 2009 and Champans proved to be a wonderful marriage. It shows layered complexity, seamless integration and a mineral backbone. Ripe red berries, exotic spices and a touch of red licorice. There is a great midpalate richness that leads to a long and harmonious finish. In a great zone right now. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

The 2014 Seavey Merlot is in the zone right now. Although a lot of Seavey offerings take time to develop, this Merlot can either be kept or consumed. But, after having this one I just don't know how much better this will get. It is balanced well between brambleberry and slightly underripe plum on the front, herbs and a hint of a nitrogen note in the middle. Acidity is good throughout. Well structured, this wine went well by itself and also went well with a chicken burrito. Finished darker than it started. I think this one is right where it needs to be right now. I think you could hold this for 5-7 years but really just is a nice drinker now. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Medium gold. Heavy. Rich fruit forward nose. Notes of apricot, flowers, citrus, crushed stone and sea breeze. Rich and powerful in the mouth. Fat. With air, lemon creme and white stone notes dominate the amazing nose. This is in the zone and ready for business now but I would hope this could stay at a great plateau for the next decade. — 7 years ago

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.6

So in the zone. Sleek and elegant with fine tannins. Amazing. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

My last 2011 bottle. The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the heart of the Chianti zone, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. Crognolo, aged in French Allier barriques, deep red with red fruit aromas and sweet perfumed spice. On the palate raspberry and cherry flavors, gentle spice and soft tannins with great mouthfeel. Good balance, lingering finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Aged well. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The QED is a blend of six different vineyards and is 69% Syrah, 15% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre and 4% Viognier. Beautiful perfumed florals on the nose of violets and purple florals, baking spices, blueberries, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum and dark soils. The body is medium as are the velvety tannins. On the palate; ripe, lean, blueberries, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries and plum. Then, beautiful spices rise off the palate gently. Red roses, violets, dark moist earth, crushed dry rocks with very good acidity and a beautiful finish. — 8 years ago