Core
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Dominus Estate
Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1994
An incredible wine. It tasted as if it were just a few years old. Beautiful core of dark fruit and earth. A gorgeous expression of the valley. As Austin Peterson, Ovid Winemaker, said as we drank this "man California wine!" — 11 years ago
Beaulieu Vineyard
Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Deep garnet red with ruby core. Tasted blind. Very tight and dark on the nose with dark cocoa, dark spices and soft dark berries. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Very dark palate as well with black cherries, cassis, black currants, dark cocoa and a little woody. Long and lingering finish. Thought this was a bit older than a 2013 but powerful, needs some time to fully develop. Drink till 2032. (93+) — 9 years ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1997
Great breeding trumps a below-average vintage. Blind, the nose alone gives away the DNA of this phenomenal wine. This Merlot-dominated Cheval has a beautiful core of cocoa powder, prune and plums. Structure from sweet oak and cab franc skins come through on the finish. Excellent, but a world away from the 2000 that's a palate-reference for me. Don't wait on this one, this well-stored bottle felt past its apex. — 10 years ago
Château Musar
Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2001
Core of velvety crushed vanilla cherry candy, a bit closed, not showing as mature. Good little mint, herbs, black olives. — 11 years ago
Spottswoode
Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 1989
A little bready now but still sweet core and melted tannins. Cork was dry though but wine seemed fine. — 9 years ago
Azienda Agricola Fontodi
Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale Sangiovese 2005
Dusty sour cherry and cocoa nose on a beautiful dark cherry, sour plum and dark chocolate core. Long, fine tannins. One of 2 bottles was off but the "on" one more than made up for it! Not one of those super-long-term Flacc's, but quite yummy, very much a food wine. — 9 years ago
Marqués de Murrieta
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004
Regrettably the one Bodega I missed from a stomach bug on my trip last week, though I still love love you Spain and look forward to going back. Now back to the wine....
A beautiful ruby core with some orange and pink at the edges.
The nose is elegantly fruited, with dry flowers, cherry and American oak notes of coconut, dill and toast.
The palate is elegant, refined, while masterfully complex and persistent at the same time. The finish is long and crazy silky. One of the few GR from a very older producer that uses only proprietary fruit.
— 11 years ago
Azienda Agricola Montevetrano
Core Campania Aglianico 2012
Nice big balance of berries, earth and velvet finish. — 12 years ago
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Super fun wine to get us ready for the Bordeaux Masters Class this afternoon.
Medium garnet core with bricking in the edges. Layered nose with some definite bret, not off putting at all. Notes of barnyard, leather and dried red cherries. Well integrated and balanced. Moderate tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Very rustic on the palate with some dried red cherries, forest floor and cedar. Long finish. Enough finesse to go another year or two but why wait, drinking well right now. Drink till 2019. — 9 years ago