Dark Matter Wines

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2012

Showing lots of dark fruits, smoke, meat, savory spice, mineral & violets. — 2 months ago

Hermes, Shay and 10 others liked this

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Dark ruby red. Black fruit, dark cherries, and tobacco on the nose. Good balance that fully coats the palate with ripe dark fruit, black licorice, and baking spices. Long finish. Wonderful wine for price. — 2 months ago

Ted, Dave and 2 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2018

2018 vintage. Last tasted 04.08.23 (9.5), 12.01.22 from a 375ml (9.5) and upon release 06.07.21 (9.5). Decanted and tasted after 45 minutes. Mysterious, dark-fruited and dusty nose. Medium body with excellent darkness of night color. Previous baby-fat overtures approximately 90% gonzo. Slimming down and getting more toned. In a state of transition with undeniable tension that can easily be misconstrued as underperforming. Last wine I tasted that was under this sort of metamorphosis at this level was the 1996 Pichon-Lalande about 1.5 years ago. Such a privilege to experience world-class wines in such a vulnerable moment. Everything is laid out bare/naked before you and you can see where the wine is headed and whether it will be following a trajectory that agrees with you. Definitely unusual to find this occurring in a wine this youthful but the 21st Century is smashing the old 20th Century clay tablets and digitizing. For most wine enthusiasts sampling this wine now, expecting some disappointment in the scoring. For myself, this is currently in the perfect symmetry of past, present and future. Will it show critically better in the future according to the accepted trials, palates, judges and juries? Probably. Will they experience the potential, doubts, insecurities and questions? Doubtful. This kid stays in this exact picture for another 2-4 years imho before striking another pose and I would love to taste this again during that time frame. An above and beyond thank you to FLB (Friday Lunch Bunch) regular Todd. 08.15.25. — 2 months ago

Dave, Ruud and 19 others liked this

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. — 4 months ago

Dave, Tom and 10 others liked this
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Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

Great vintage for Jamet showing dark cherry, berry, meat, graphite, olive, savory spice, mineral & violet — 5 months ago

Tom, Shay and 10 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

From MAG

2 hour decant. A striking purplish dark garnet color. On the nose: beautiful notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, herbaceous, vanilla, cloves. Taste: creamy, polished, structured wine with blackberry, dark chocolate, minerals, bell pepper, leather, and a decent herbal/potting soil finish. Drinks surprisingly well with the decant at this age, and of course a few more years it will improve. YUM!
— 6 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 18 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Only about 10-15 years too soon

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Deep ruby with aromas of dark cherry, plum, and wet rock. Tastes of cherry and cedar. A slight tartness with nice finish. — 9 months ago

Dark Horse Wines

The Original California Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Black cherry and spice with a chocolate finish — 5 years ago

19 Crimes

The Banished Dark Red Blend

Ritch oily smoothness😉 — 6 years ago

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot

Dark fruits, intense colour, great legs. A real bargain. — 8 years ago

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Château Léoville Poyferré 2014
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinguished Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth) from Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Poyferré has been elevated under the stewardship of the Cuvelier family and Michel Rolland’s consultancy. The 2014 vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. This cooler year yielded wines with notable polish, freshness, and age-worthy structure.  

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive and refined, the bouquet opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and plum, framed by cedar, graphite, violets, and aromatic spice. The palate is layered with ripe red and dark fruits, along with hints of tobacco, pepper, and soft oak—a harmonious reflection of balanced ripeness and terroir depth.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, with smooth yet structured tannins and vivid acidity. The finish is long and mineral-tinged, echoing Saint-Julien’s limestone terroir while expressing both strength and grace.

Winemaking Notes
Vinified traditionally and aged in French oak barrels (predominantly new), the 2014 benefits from meticulous attention to extraction and maturation, resulting in elegant concentration and finesse.  

Food Pairing
Wonderful with roast lamb, herb-crusted beef, or rich mushroom dishes. Decanting for an hour enhances its layered complexity.

Verdict
A classic expression of Left Bank finesse and depth, Château Léoville Poyferré 2014 strikes an artful balance between fruit, structure, and refinement. Enjoy now with decanter or cellar it to explore its evolution over the next decade.Cheers!
— 2 months ago

Ted, ESF and 4 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Not sure I’ve had any other 2006 Bordeaux but decided to pull this to give it a go at nearly 20 years of age. Nice wine but perhaps not one that justifies the price point. At first quite tight, but after a 5 hour decant this really comes into its own. Lots of leather and dark blue and black fruit. Oak is really only apparent in structure now. Great acid. 13% which is nicely balanced. — 3 months ago

Severn, Andrew and 15 others liked this
Severn G

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Oh yeah! Our favorite S-J producer ❤️
Jay Kline

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@Severn G That’s a big statement!

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid medium dark garnet color. On the nose: perfumed notes of red fruit, herbaceous, eucalyptus, mushroom, smoked meat, ripe olives, sweet tobacco. Taste: rich, velvety full wine with brambly dark cherry/plum, coffee, dark chocolate, orange peel, and a peppery- dried herbs- gamey long finish. YUM! A nicely aged and elegant wine with soft tannins and good acidity!! — 3 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 14 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. — 5 months ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1955

From mag. Dark intense gravelly fruit. Leather and sour cherry. Serious and bridging still. Great aged Bordeaux. — 6 months ago

BOT Paul WoollsMatt Lichtenberg
with BOT, Paul and 1 other
Ceccherini, Bob and 13 others liked this
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Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Double decant for sediment and pour (lots of chunky/fine sediment). A striking still dark ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: wonderful fragrant nose of brambly red fruit, leather, loamy earth, mint, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, elegant wine with dried red fruit, cedar, dried herbs, tar, smokey earth, gravel with a medium plus finish. YUM! Still hanging in there and a pleasure to drink. — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Rick and 17 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Enjoy this producer, but not the best Napa vintage.

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

Shafer ‘Hillside Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon 1995: Balanced. Smooth. Vibrant. Full dark fruits, plum, tobacco, vanilla & oak. Long, distinguished finish. For me, this wine has aged extremely well and is still very luscious; the fruit still delivers, remaining full & soft, even after all these years. A 1995 Napa Cab doesn’t get much better than this. Amazing in every way! Cheers🍷 — 3 years ago

Matt, Severn and 2 others liked this

Apothic

Dark California Red Blend

Great for dessert, chocolate. Somewhat sweet. — 7 years ago

Folie à Deux

Ménage à Trois Midnight Lot 369 Dark Red Blend 2015

Very rich with flavor. More flavor then the regular red ménage a trois. Both are great! — 8 years ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

First bottle of the 2010. This is gonna be a really special wine but I think it need another 5-7 years. Tannins and softened, fruit is there, acidity is still strong, and don’t get me wrong it’s great now with a couple hour decant, but in a few years it’ll be really nice. Getting black, blue, and dark red fruit, ripe and juicy. Man so silky in the mouth. Graphite, stone, forest floor, cedar, hints of camphor, black licorice. Wonderful. Nice medium + finish. Really nice, only going to get better! — 2 months ago

Austin, "Odedi" and 11 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Decant and pour. Nose: enticing perfumed dark fruit, mint, pine, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with blackberry, milk chocolate, earth, leather, graphite, and a lingering long finish with some slightly grippy tannins. YUM!! No hurry, time to go. — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Dave and 16 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Enjoy Randy’s work. Never a rush on his wines. They simply get better and better with long bottle age.

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

Classic color, fragrances, and dark cherry on the palate. If you drink this wine at less than 5 years old, you might be disappointed. But at 7 years old, it is amazing. August 2025. — 3 months ago

Dave liked this

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah

Dark ruby. Aged in American Oak. Full bodied on the palate with mild tannins. — 4 months ago

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.
— 5 months ago

Rob, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

One Point Five Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

2022 vintage. Sampled via Coravin. A bit more fruit than the 2021 vintage sampled just prior. Still...über-pleasant and giving now. Cellar it. PNP it tonight. Somewhere in between...doesn't really matter as you'll be more than satisfied regardless of your decision. 03.19.25. — 7 months ago

Andrew, Douglas and 11 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

Big lush, dark fruit that has not reached its peak window yet. But she ain’t far away. I was able to obtain a vertical of 01,02,03,& 04. My first foray into that vertical. No rush on this one but very impressed. Leather, pepper, if not cigar leaf here . Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on here and my lack of Cali knowledge has new intrigue — 8 months ago

Vino, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Belle Glos

Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Really tasty. Perhaps the first Cali Pinot noir that I’ve enjoyed, also probably because it drinks more like a zin. Dark opaque red. Slightly smokey. Full bodied. Bought it on sale for $35. Would love to have again. Had with apps on New Year’s Eve, but would be great with food and could even hold up to a heartier meal (steak, etc). — 10 months ago

Ethan HeyboerPeter HeyboerDiane Heyboer
with Ethan, Peter and 1 other
"Odedi", Andrew and 1 other liked this

Sine Qua Non

Dark Blossom Syrah

Not too much to say....power in a silky glove...close to perfection. — 7 years ago

Ira, Jeroen and 8 others liked this

Carnivor

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Full bodied, dark, and smooth. Semi-fruity with subtle tannins. Very drinkable. — 11 years ago