Dark Waves

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. — 3 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. — 4 months ago

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

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Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Quite light spices , coffee , sous bois , herbal hints . On the palate this has good density and spicy , menthol , dark coffee stained fruit , some slightly gritty tannin . It comes across as quite ripe but with balanced acidity and quite good menthol tinged length . This was served blind from a half bottle . I was putting this in the 80s and Napa , not Bordeaux! This had to do with the texture and quite ripe , generous fruit profile . Drinking perfectly now , I wouldn’t wait any longer — 4 months ago

Ira, Tom and 11 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — 5 months ago

Jeroen, Jan and 11 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2021

Deep ruby , thin pink rim . Fresh cassis , blackberry , quite spicy with a touch of vanilla, red plum . Quite open and enticing . On the palate this is somewhat linear with cool dark fruits , cassis , red plum , grafite and saline touch . Fills out well with quite grippy , cool tannins , fresh acidity , and good length with grafite , cassis finish . This is obviously not ready , however it was an enjoyable wine to drink over dinner , the freshness and cool fruit character are quite apparent , and the tannins though gritty are somewhat in the background . Though it was worth the experience , I would leave bottles a further 10 years before trying another. This is an elegant and well judged wine . — 6 months ago

"Odedi", Shay and 15 others liked this

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. — 7 months ago

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot 2021

Ming L
9.0

Dismissed by many as too jammy or too ripe, I’ve always thought this is the fun bottling. This ‘21 is no exception. Beneath the slightly over extracted ripe dark fruits lies quite complex aromas and flavors of figs, sweet spices, dark chocolate, smoke meat, and hint of balsamic. Rich palate but not overbearing. In a good vintage like ‘21, this can benefit for 5-8 years of bottle age.
My guilty pleasure.
— 9 months ago

Tom, Bob and 1 other liked this

19 Crimes

The Banished Dark Red Blend

Ritch oily smoothness😉 — 6 years ago

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

Dark Horse Wines

The Original California Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Pairs well with Netflix and a blanket — 10 years ago

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

Great vintage for Jamet showing dark cherry, berry, meat, graphite, olive, savory spice, mineral & violet — 3 months ago

Tom, Shay and 10 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1962

Slightly medicinal notes. Dark fruit, leather, cedar, plum and bitter cherry. Soft and long. — 4 months ago

BOT Paul WoollsMatt Lichtenberg
with BOT, Paul and 1 other
Jan, Ceccherini and 7 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!
— 4 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

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2012

This is still youthful with notes of dark fruits, floral, meat, lavender, underbrush, & spice — 6 months ago

Severn, Shay and 8 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 — 6 months ago

Vino, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and half a % each of Malbec and Merlot, aged 15 months in 33% new French oak, 51% of fruit from Atlas Peak District, deep Ruby with aromas of vibrant dark fruit, sweet spice and herbs. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with tobacco spice, toasty oak, cinnamon and floral notes. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, cedar, mocha and mineral character, Nice, should age well. — 6 months ago

Juan, Andrew and 7 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Medium-dark-red color, very little browning at rim, this shows a little of the “overripe” notes I’ve found in 1990 Bordeaux (and CdPs), nice concentration and depth, long finish, the ripeness carries into the finish and detracts just a little. — 9 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Chris, Ira and 9 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 32 months in 100% new 60-gallon French oak barrels. Deep Ruby with pronounced aromas of dark fruits, with hints of cedar, floral, oak, herbs and spice. On the palate flavors of concentrated ripe blackberry, cherry and blackberry, pepper, tobacco, leather and earthy cacao. Fine savory tannins, well balanced, long finish, great structure ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy mineral character. Outstanding! — a year ago

Vino, Joe and 15 others liked this
Rob Brobst III

Rob Brobst III Influencer Badge

Well done and happy sipping!

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

Carnivor

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

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

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Dark and brooding. Tangy plum fruit, roses, blood and dried herbs, iodine. Very intense and serious. Blackcurrant and black pepper with plum and black cherry. Long and quality. — 3 months ago

Bex GreenMajor-General Sir William Biddles CurranDavid Schachter
with Bex, Major-General and 1 other
Mario, Shay and 12 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

Somm David T
9.4

2010 is a vintage to leave to your children if you bought this at 50 years old forward. This is a 50-60 year wine with proper storage.

The nose shows nice ruby, fruits of; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries with a dark currant center, blackberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Chocolate mousse, melted, milk chocolate, light caramel, moist sage, warm, slightly sweet dark earth with withering dark & red florals.

The palate is warm, inviting & beautiful. Easy to drink. Dark cherries, cherries, strawberries with a dark currant center, blackberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Red cola/licorice, dark chocolate, melted, milk chocolate, light caramel, moist sage, warm, oak barrel shavings, moist, dark earth w/ dry leaves, celery, used leather, moist tobacco, with withering dark & red florals. Perfect acidity with an excellently balanced, nicely knitted, perfect tension & structure with elegance for days the falls evenly on ripe fruits & soft earthiness.

94-96 in another 10 years. Outside chance at 97.
— 4 months ago

Rob, David and 24 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Great wine from a great vintage

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021

Decant and pour. Restrained notes of dark fruit, smoke, leather, tobacco, grilled bell pepper. Taste: cherry, blueberry, currants, crushed granite, truffles. A young wine that I would luv to drink again in 15 years. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Somm and 20 others liked this

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. — 6 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.

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Blend of 60% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot, 3% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral and spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry, currant and blueberry fruit with cigar box, cinnamon and floral notes. Lively acidity, elegant fine tannins, well balanced, long finish ending with slight earthy notes, plenty of depth, good now and will continue to develop. — 6 months ago

Tom, Vino and 11 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). — 8 months ago

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

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Big fruit forward Napa cab. Ripe dark fruit, on the edge of overpowering. Tannins are rounded and quite soft. — 10 months ago

Joe, Billy and 1 other liked this

Apothic

Dark California Red Blend

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

Shafer Vineyards

One Point Five Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Paul K
9.6

We rated this 9.4 last night after opening up for two hours. Could have been a pinch generous. Had 1.5 glasses left, corked, and finished off this afternoon. What a treat. The earthy raspberry smoothed to dark cherry -graphite. Amazing. Shame on us for judging this young wine so quickly. Changing to 9.6. :) — 9 years ago

Jason, Rob and 4 others liked this