Dark Matter Wines

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Solid! Beautiful deep purple color. Aromas of blueberry, leather, black cherry cassis and cocoa. Amazing dark and blue flavors, very well balanced. — 19 days ago

Dave, Tom and 10 others liked this
Ron R

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Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1981

This was a well-stored example and the cork was in pretty great shape; extracted with the aid of a Durand. Opened about an hour before service and poured into a decanter. Enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 pours a garnet color with a slight orange-ish rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with mostly desiccated notes of dark and red fruit: red currants, confected cherry, organic earth, mushroom, leather, eucalyptus, baking spice. Umami AF. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. While showing its age, this is very much alive. The entire bottle was enjoyed by all. Drink now. — 6 days ago

Zach, Andrew and 16 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Leather and spice up front, with a trace of dill that softens into dark cherry after an hour in the decanter. — 25 days ago

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

Great vintage for Jamet showing dark cherry, berry, meat, graphite, olive, savory spice, mineral & violet — 2 months ago

Tom, Shay and 10 others liked this

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah

Dark ruby. Aged in American Oak. Full bodied on the palate with mild tannins. — 7 days ago

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Boom! From the first sip - this wine was explosive and delicious.

Dark and black fruits come out and then lend to some red fruit and while it has good depth, this wine is very smooth.

Seems like it’s in the drinking window
— 16 days ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.6

I think if you read this nonsense I post, you know how I feel about this producer, past & present. This 07 is outstanding & top of its bell curve. It is so good to revisit these great vintages of Caymus Classic.

This is fresher than the 97. It is rich/lush, cassis to currents, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, classic, beautiful, Caymus Classic spice that I miss dearly in their new wines, black licorice, fudge, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, most top soil, limestone, dry herbs, dry tobacco, barrel shavings, taut leather, volcanic grey clay, dark, fresh & slightly withering flowers, violets, beautiful round acidity, balance, structure, nice tension and elegant finish that last minutes and falls on spice and evoluted earth tones.

This bottle is in fine shape. Still strong and will last another 10 years of fine drinking. Phenomenal vintage and time to enjoy.
— 25 days ago

Rob, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Opened a few hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of an hour. This bottle of the 1986 was re-corked at the chateau in 2011. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and some dried dark and red fruits: black currants, brambles, black plum, tobacco, pencil shavings, some dried flowers, green pepper, leather, some earth and a gentle mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This seemed evergreen and this bottle spending most of its life in the cellars of the chateau likely has a lot to do with that. Fabulous stuff. Drink now through 2046. — 5 days ago

Dave, Douglas and 2 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Dark and briny. Gnarly fruit with dried herbs and intense meaty fruit. Mineral and deep. Rich and long. Great — a month ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Jay, Jeroen and 17 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Deborah and 18 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Another tip: I keep a bottle in the fridge to pour decanted sediment dregs into, and use it (except for the muddy bottom part) for cooking. That way my coq au vin or daube is braising in really good stuff from my cellar!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Tom C, good notes. Thanks for the tips. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x x I find the sediments can be bitter and usually try to remove them so they don't impact the wine. Hate them all over the side of the glass. Cheers!