Cuvee No 67
Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot
Bourgogne Passetoutgrains 2015
Such a delicious, lip-smacking, classic expression from Côte de Nuits. Comprised of 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Gamay, “Passetoutgrain” roughly translates into “throw it all together.” Notes of bing cherry, wild strawberry, baking spices, and forest floor (from the Pinot), along with purple plums, crushed rocks, and violet (from the Gamay). I only wish I had more since this bad boy can throw down until 2030, no doubt. — 7 years ago
Bevan Cellars
Showket Vineyard Merlot 2008
Germano Ettore
Vigna Della Madre Superiore Barbera d'Alba 2011
Vintage 2011 When you call a cuvee 'della Madre' it better be good. Well, no problem: it is very good. Powerfull wine with nice spicy smell, good balance and some plums in taste, smooth wine. Wouldn't mind when someone wakes me at night for this wine. — 9 years ago
Clos Fantine
Cuvee Courtiol Faugères Mourvedre 2013
Dark fruit Leather funkiness. Great acidic pop throughout (though I'm getting a phantom-like petillant effect). In some ways reminded me of a stranger la Rioja Alta Gran Reserva Rioja...
I think this is fermented by carbonic maceration? (no cap punch down or pump over, say the winemakers...) I plan on *definitely* buying this again. Faugères in the house! — 10 years ago
St. Francis Winery
Cuvée Lago Russian River Valley Red Blend 2006
2006, St. Francis Winery, Lagomarsino Vineyard Cuvee Lago, Russian River Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah. Part of my stash from when I was a member. Drank a while ago and kept no tasting notes. A big red that was drinking well. — 10 years ago
Hirsch Vineyards
San Francisco Food Bank Cuvee Pinot Noir 2009
Randomly ran across this wine at a liquor store with no price tag. It was originally released in 2011 for $45. I offered the guy $15, considering it'd been stored upright for the last 3 years. He accepted.
Typical forrest floor, cola, strawberry nose. Tart cherries, cranberries, and dirt on the palate. I am very happy. — 11 years ago
No. 1 Family Estate
No 1 Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling Chardonnay
Biscuity, mouthwatering, lovely fine bubbles — 12 years ago
Domaine de la Biscarelle
Les Anglaises Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2010
this is the old vine cuvee- 100-110 years old. the previously posted bottling is a mere 80+ years old. dense, elegant. same no wood with stem regimen. — 12 years ago
Chappellet
Signature Donn Chappellet Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Deep dark opaque purple, viscous.
Vanilla, pine, liquorish on the nose-- no real fruit present. Palate pretty true to nose. Low acidity, medium plus tannins, a tad hot on the alcohol (14.5). At first, body is medium plus them slips to medium minus. Finish is short. Not a ton going on here. Much better value elsewhere. I have enjoyed their cuvee more in the past.
91 points — 7 years ago
Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards
Right Bank Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards 2013 Right Bank cab franc 67% and merlot 33%. FANTABULOUS!!!! At 60 dollars it is as high end as it gets for my taste at a budget cost. It is better than any cab franc blend Ive ever had at any price. it has a unique oak and spice to it. No chocolate nor vanilla. Loads of Black licorice and cigar. A wonderful change. Still lots of dark berries on the beginning and very dry on the finish. This will never disappoint. Must decant however for at least 30 min in large decanter. — 8 years ago
No. 1 Family Estate
Cuvee Number 8 Methode Traditionelle Champagne Blend
Casino night — 9 years ago
Domaine De La Grand'Cour (Jean-Louis Dutraive)
Les Clos Cuvée Vielles Vignes Fleurie Gamay 2014
Arcadian
Francesca Central Coast Pinot Noir 2006
The barrel selection for this cuvee really works- beautiful Pinot fruit balanced by lively acidity and just the right amount of sous bois and earth. Clearly done in an old world style, but the best that SBC has to offer. Delicious, but no hurry. — 9 years ago
Recaredo
Gran Reserva Brut Nature Penedès White Blend 2008
Superb Catalan "cava" with its typical grape blend. 67 months of ageing, no added sugar at all, disgorged by hand. Better than most of French "champagnes" at an affordable price. — 10 years ago
Château de Beaucastel
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc White Rhone Blend
Wine of the night for many, the facts: made from 80% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc, from vines between 10-40 years old, and a small quantity of the “Vieilles Vignes” cuvee, produced entirely from Roussanne vines of at least 65 years of age. Deep gold in color, this is indeed in the mature stage. A complex and full nose showed layers of almonds, sea breeze, candied citrus and honeysuckle. The palate indeed confirmed the small bit of oxidized notes (sherry like saline) that went very well with the yellow fruits and flowers, full bodied with grace, minerality and good acid cut which no doubt is how it was able to age. — 12 years ago
Turley
Old Vines California Zinfandel 2007
Expensive bottle at 67 at Edgewater Hotel Seattle. It had a great taste. Not sure worth $110 but heck sometimes when they ask if you want a bottle you should say"no". Would love to have again. — 13 years ago
Carl Roy
East Side Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
I have not had this for awhile, and while I still thoroughly enjoyed the richness and complexity after an hour of breathing, it completely broke down to something very unpleasant for last glass 3 hours after opening...no sediment, but a transformation to extreme harshness. Weird. — 7 years ago
Rene Rostaing
Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2010
2010 was a very good vintage in Rhône. Rostaing is a well know producer with people that know and drink Northern Rhône wines, not so much with others that do not. The Ampodium is the entry level into Rene & Pierre Rostaing wines. It is a blend of 13 vineyards in Northern Rhône. They are simply one of the very best producers in the region. I spent an afternoon with Rene & his son Pierre tasting in the their cellar and in their La Landonne vineyard as shown in the photos. The 2010 is drinking beautifully with many good years ahead. On the nose; ripe & slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries, cherries, steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, iron pan, some white & black pepper, bacon fat, grilled savory meats, pork, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with violets. The body is round and medium full. The tannins round, still a little chewy & around 55% resolved. The length, texture, tension and balance are in near perfect harmony. The fruits are; round, ruby & ripe; slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries & cherries. Steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, chalky minerals, iron pan, coffee grounds, spice, some baking spices w/hints of vanilla, white & black pepper, drying blood, dry herbs/bay leaf, dry stems, moderate levels of bacon fat & pork, grilled savory meats, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets for days. The acidly is round and dripping. The long finish is plush, velvety delicious and lasts & lasts. In good vintages, I would put this in blind with the best of of the best new world wines from any vintage that many love; SQN, Booker, Saxum, Alban, Cayuse, Horsepower etc.. I’d bet most of you would pick it over these producers that cost much more $$$. It’s simply one of the best pound for pound wines/producers for this varietal. Especially, for the $$$. Wow, what a wine for the $. $55 upon release. Photos of; Winemaker Pierre Rostaing and our group in their La Landonne vineyard, the small sign that barely identifies their Estate, an example of the Quartz mineral that runs throughout their La Landonne vineyard and the view back onto the river from the top of the very steep La Landonne Vineyard. Producer notes and history...Rene Rostaing produced their first wine in 1971. However, it took almost three decades before wine became a full time occupation for Rene Rostaing. Domaine Rene Rostaing came about through marriage. The wife of Rene Rostaing was the daughter of the famed Cote Rotie grower, Albert Dervieux, and the niece of Marius Gentaz-Dervieux who gave Christine the vineyard land that became the Northern Rhone estate for Rene Rostaing. Through inheritance from Albert Dervieux Thaize (his father-in-law) who retired in 1990, and from Marius Gentaz Dervieux, his uncle, Rene Rostaing expanded his holdings, giving him some of the best terroir in Cote Rotie. The new vineyard land was basically 3 small parcels in the La Landonne, Cote Brune and Vialliere lieux-dits. This initial expansion from his initial tiny parcel, allowed Rene Rostaing to change careers and become a full time vigneron. Since 2007, the estate has managed by Pierre Rostaing, (son) of Rene Rostaing. Currently Rene Rostaing owns 7.5 hectares of vines that is spread out among 20 different parcels located in 14 locations. Perhaps the most celebrated vines of Rene Rostaing are the 1.6 hectares of vines they own in the La Landonne vineyard (photo). On La Landonne, the vines are more than 60 years old. Some vines are even close to 100 years of age! Those are his largest holdings. The smallest vineyards of Rene Rostaing are located on Cote Blonde. Rene Rostaing also has vines planted in; Fonjean, La Vialliere, Le Plomb, Bouchare, Leyat, La Roche and La Tupin. Their oldest vines are more than 70 years old and are used for Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde. The majority of those plantings are on the steep hillsides with mica, schist and rocky soils. 25% of those vines are closer to the bottom of the slopes and on the flats. Rene Rostaing remains a traditional Cote Rotie producer who is not among the last to harvest. His wines are aged using very little new, French oak barrels. On average, Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie are aged in about 10% new French oak barrels. Rene Rostaing produces 4 different Cote Rotie wines. Rene Rostaing Ampodium, which was previously known as Rostaing Cuvee Classique, is a blend of 13 sections of different vineyards, but it does not include their best holdings on La Landonne or Cote Blonde. The fruit for Rene Rostaing Ampodium has at least 40% or more of the stems removed and run between 12-13.5% abv. The wine is usually made from 100% Syrah and is aged in an average of 15% to 25% new, French oak barrels. The amount of new oak can be less, depending on the character of the vintage. About 1,750 cases are produced each year. The wine is no longer called Cuvee Classique, the name was changed to Rene Rostaing Ampodium with the 2009 vintage. Rene Rostaing La Landonne comes from a terroir consisting of sands with iron oxide and traces of quartz. This wine is always produced from 100% Syrah. The grapes are partially destemmed, with about 10% to 20% of the stems removed, depending on the vintage. There are vintages when no destemming takes place. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats. Rene Rostaing is not a believer of using too much new oak for the aging, which on average uses 10% new, French oak barrels and the remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids (600 liter) and French oak barrels. This wine is like most wines from La Landonne, masculine and meaty in character, requiring at least a decade to soften and develop. On average, Rene Rostaing La Landonne produces less than 600 cases depending on what the vintage delivers. Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde is perhaps his best. It’s produced from a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. The grapes are co-fermented. The vineyards is planted in the region call Arzel. Arzel is a poor, mineral laden soil with deposits of Silex and Mica on a steep hillside. The vines are more than 50 years of age. The grapes are partially destemmed…35% to 50% of the stems are removed. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats.
The remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids. This one is the hardest to find and most collectible of all their wines. In fact, they only produce close to an average of 350 cases of Cote Rotie in most vintages. Rene Rostaing Cote Brune made its debut with the 2013 vintage. The vines were once part of the holdings of Marius Gentaz, which eventually passed to Rene Rostaing. Rostaing replanted those vines in 2000. Made from 100% Syrah. — 8 years ago
Lucien Aviet & Fils
Caveau de Bacchus Arbois Trousseau 2013
Full name is the Trousseau Marne Rouge Reserve du Caveau Cuvee des Geologues in case that matters.... but it's a super-pretty Trousseau. Not like those funky poulsards from the Jura, this is really about fresh, just-crushed fruit even though its gentle concentration makes it spritely and thirst-quenching. It's clean and vibrant - no funk here, though it does have just a shade if cedary oak. — 10 years ago
René Geoffroy
Millésime Extra Brut Champagne Blend 2004
71% CH - 29% PN. Tete de cuvee juice only. Ageing in barriques and on the lees for at least 7 years. Dosage of 2g/L. No malos. 7 years and half aged under cork. A pleasant surprise than this cuvee. Not wonderfully deep and complex but every component has been helped to find its place. The result is a generous wine, complete with rich brioche and baker workshop note. Will develop well over the next few years. For the short - medium term. — 10 years ago
Pride Mountain Vineyards
Vintner Select Cuvee Sonoma County Merlot 2005
In great shape, still primary in terms of fruit, but the tannin is resolved. No hard edges — 11 years ago
Foyt Family Wines
No. 67 Chardonnay
Wonderful creamy vanilla! Just love it! — 12 years ago
North By Northwest (NxNW)
NxNW Tower Club Cuvee Columbia Valley Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Blend 67% Syrah, 33% Cab — 13 years ago
Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
No formal notes. Enjoyed at lunch with a client. One of the finest wines I’ve ever had. DRC like.
@Delectable Wine this the the “Cuvee H” and also “Vieilles Vignes.” Thank you. — 6 years ago