Down To Earth
Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991
Of all the American red wines that participated in the Judgement of Paris, it could be argued that Monte Bello has shown the greatest propensity to age. In fact, I would go as far as it requires lengthy cellaring to extract its best. I’ve had the good fortune to drink a number of tremendous vintages of Monte Bello over the last several years and this one has got to be at or near the top of the lot.
Opened and poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1991 Monte Bello pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards a light ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart black currants, mixed bramble fruit, tobacco, some purple flowers, dill, mint, leather, earth, vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. The structure remains tremendous which again, seems to indicate youth. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and immensely satisfying. This is one of those wines that will outlive most humans. Drinking well now with a short decant but this has the gas to see 2061 with ease. — 10 months ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004
Presented blind alongside three other red wines; another Bordeaux and two Bordeaux blends from CA. All wines were descanted and returned to the bottle 8 hours prior.
This wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity. Medium+ intensity. The nose was a mix of red and dark fruits with currants and cherries, tobacco, pencil shavings, earth, espresso and baking spice. There’s just a whiff of a barnyard in the distance too. On the palate, again the mixed fruit set with beautifully ripened blackberries and black cherries, currants, earth, coffee and baking chocolate. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Finishes looooooong, dry and immensely satisfying.
The wine is balanced and leans towards its structure. I called 2004 Latour. The soaring aromatics were simply incredible. I just wanted to spend the entire evening with my nose buried in the glass. This is squarely in the drinking window yet has many years left in it. Drink now with an extended decant or enjoy over the next 10-15 years. — 4 years ago
SLO Down Wines
Sexual Chocolate California Red Blend
An absolute favorite. Great name and the winemaker has a great background story. To me, it's the wine equivalent to eating chocolate-covered cherries with an espresso on the side. — 6 years ago
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2011
Visiting again this splendid Paulliac from the 2011 vintage. 2011 vintage was labeled as mediocre in Bordeaux and this lovely wine showed that it is actually a classic vintage with some great wines, so trust the chateau not only the vintage. The nose is tempting with notes if coffee, earth, oak, cassis, black fruits and hints of chocolate, the body is full with round tannins, acidity is splendid and finish is long. My score 92, drink to 2026, perhaps longer — 6 years ago
Château La Vieille Cure
Fronsac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004
Opened by mistake thought had multiple but was vertical of single bottle of '00-'09. Ruby color with purple tinge. Nice nose of dark fruits and earth. Peppers and savory on the palate. Supple and silky texture. Medium finish. 75% Merlot then Cab Franc. Drinking nicely. Should comp with other vintages!
Curious ave CVed (1/17/18).'06. More earthy ave funk on nose. Good balanced and acidic texture on palate and not as silky. Good long finish. 8.9. Perhaps more food friendly due to acidity. — 8 years ago
Produttori del Barbaresco
Barbaresco Nebbiolo
Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 8 years ago
Jean Foillard
Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2013
Such complex aromas that benefited with a bit of air that lead to aromas of sandalwood and smoke, tea leaves, tart red fruits, violets, spice, damp earth and herbs. Long in length with cat tongue like tannin and perky acidity. So so good. — 10 years ago
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Such a classic! Well balanced classic body and structure for Alexander Valley. Open for 6+ hours the tannins have really softened and the fruit, earth and wood have opened up to integrate nicely on the palate. Can't go wrong with this producer unless there's a dismal vintage due to weather. — 11 years ago
Michael David Winery
Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon
Excellent quality to price ratio!! — 6 months ago
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
Château Léoville Poyferré
Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1996 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a lovely combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: cassis, brambles, horse blanket, cigar box, old leather, earth and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another lovely and immensely charming Poyferré. Drink now with a decant and through 2046. — 10 months ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2008
N:Dark cherries , plums, strawberries and warm spices. Dark licorice, soil and wood.
P:After 5 yrs in American oak, the palate is refined yet burly, oxymoronic. Not as delicate as Tondonia, but deeper, more rooted to the earth. Black/red. Delicious weight. These LdH wines are so iconoclastic, they live in their own space/time. One of the great treasures, I wish people hadn’t discovered them.
These wines have loooonnng lives.
Very rewarding
Thanks@TheRareWine Co. — 2 years ago
All are worth exploring and there is extensive vintage info. Cheers.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005
Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.
The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.
Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.
The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.
Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 5 years ago
Montevertine
Le Pergole Torte Sangiovese
A lovely wine. Will keep for years. Light, crisp, easy to drink...pairs well with most red meat dishes especially roasted duck. Right amount of earth. — 7 years ago
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1974
Still alive but definitely over it’s peak. What a treat to get to try! Fresh turned earth and humus, little bit of green Cabernet characteristics coming through, and just a hint of sweet fruit and spice. Even a touch of tannin! — 8 years ago
Château Malescot St. Exupéry
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Took a while to open up, so let it sit and breathe. It'll be worth it. Lots of dark fruit. In the mouth, feels round and full with satisfying lingering finish and layered tannins. I wanted to taste the 2012 now before laying it down for a few years. It's going to be great next time around. — 9 years ago
Giacomo Conterno
Cascina Francia Barolo Nebbiolo 1999
Amazing. 17 years doesn't seem like much to this wine. The tannin profile has softened significantly but this could go longer without problem. Caught it at a point where things are starting to get interesting. More organic earth, leather, licorice, and spices coming forward, that delicate violet aromas is coming around. Really pretty sense of fruit that has a lot of purity still. — 9 years ago
Clos des Papes
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2016
Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Red fruits on the nose with light oak, spices, earth, garrigue and chocolates.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, black cherries, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth and black pepper.
Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 9 year old Grenache blend from Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Powerful, yet elegant. Fruity, rich and smooth.
Still feels very young, and more fruit forward than I expected it to be. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Spicy and entertaining.
This 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhône was exceptional. Will continue to age beautifully over the next 10 years.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.
A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.
14% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$140. — 7 months ago
Dominus Estate
Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986
Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 8 months ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1964
Tasted blind. Totally different in style from the more elegant 1970 Château Petrus, the 1964 Château Cheval Blanc bursts with brettanomyces notes, but aristocratic and interesting rather than off-putting. Once your sense of smell gets past the brett, pronounced aromas of earth, dried plums and figs, cinnamon, licorice and mint emerge. Full-bodied, densely structured, concentrated and powerful, this is a hedonistic, sexy beast of a wine, waiting to be unleashed. Drink now. — 3 years ago
Bodegas Faustino
Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2006
#AgedWineTuesday
A beautiful color of ruby with a wide brick rim.
Light and gentle nose of blueberries, black cherries, black currants, light oak, Indian spices, cinnamon, light licorice, coffee, light vinaigrette, curry and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, light cedar, vegetables, coffee, tobacco leaf, herbs, black tea, peppercorn, vinaigrette and earth.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 14 year old is drinking very nicely now, although not from the best vintage.
Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show the beautiful nose, but pretty good right out of the bottle too.
This Gran Reserva is always enjoyable. A nice wine to have by itself or with food, and especially great with fatty cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$28. — 5 years ago
Heitz Cellar
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks
I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.
The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.
The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.
The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.
Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 6 years ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
First, a person has to pause and realize how lucky they are to drink this wine from 3L. Thanks Clyde for opening. This is in a perfect stage. Such evolution, length, balance, structure. Love the lower 80's alcohol levels. It's rich, lush and near perfect. Dark cassis; ripe and resolved blackberries, dark cherries, black plum w/skin, mixed berry liqueur, tobacco leaf, leather so soft you would wish it as a pillow cover, dry pebbles, dark rich earth, perfect acidity and a rich, elegant, ripe dark fruit finish. In 3L, this wine still has 10-15 years. — 9 years ago
Château Margaux
Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1954
What a treat. From the company to the antics of the cork removal, all was fantastic. Not surprised with some immediate mustiness on the nose, giving way to a rich but smooth aged blue cheese, mushrooms, soy sauce, earth, and just a faint hint of dried red fruit. Over the next 20 minutes the glass development was out of control, changing with each and every whiff and sip. Earthy umami, oxidative, and and slightly stewed reds to begin quickly opened to nice dried strawberries on the palate and nose, and advancing to moderately subdued ripened strawberries and cranberries- after 61 years and still kickin with fruit! Amazing. Then after about 20 minutes of rapid metamorphosis, it gave in and decided to fade to a very pleasant sipper...awesome. — 10 years ago
"Odedi"
Getting ready to leave France, so let's go out with a bang! It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, black cherries, tobacco, cedar, light vegetables, licorice, chocolates, coffee and light peppercorn.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, light vegetables, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth and black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8 year old Merlot based blend is still very young. In most vintages, it is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, but in the 2017 vintage it was a little different.
Spicy and entertaining. Well balanced and complex, but a little tight and restraint right now. Much earthier than I expected it to be.
Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.
A good food wine right now, that will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
A blend of 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (70% New) French oak barrels for 18 months.
14% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$450. — 5 months ago