Earth First

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

This was full bodied, drinking well showing dark fruits, spice, earth, graphite & tobacco — 15 days ago

Juan, Jean-Philip and 8 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1501

Pretty, bright, purity of fruit, sense of warm earth, beautiful structure, so textural, great balance. Power, a lot of time, yet so alluring now. — 7 days ago

Scott@Mister liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

1 hour decant(little sediment). A striking deep dark magenta with bricking. On the nose: subtle seductive notes of dark red fruit, wet earth, eucalyptus, mushroom, toffee. Taste: silky, balanced, fresh, elegant wine with dark cherry, currants, leather, minerals, herbs, mint, and a earthy raspberry espresso long lingering finish. YUM! — 15 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Dave and 17 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Awesome
ESF

ESF

what a pull

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Lavender, chalk, peppery notes, wet earth, and a hint of black fruit on the nose. Sun-dried tomatoes; a full-bodied and concentrated style, yet somewhat closed—meaning it doesn’t quite reveal the whole story. Time will tell and I’m guessing it’s going to be a intriguing story. 92+ — 2 days ago

Eric and Jan liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, capsicum, leather, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The label is beat to hell but the condition of the wine inside the bottle was perfect. Classic, old school Bordeaux from a classified growth. Drink now through 2043. — 22 days ago

Somm, Juan and 16 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I don’t know that paper labels pair well with older Bordeaux. 😂

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2017

Excellent follow up to the classic 2016 Vintage. Blend of Mourvèdre (30%), Grenache (30%), Syrah (15%), Counoise (10%) and the balance (15%) made up of other approved CDP varietals led by Vaccarese’. Aromas of red and black fruit, garrigue, leather and earth. Flavors of black raspberries, currants and cherries, Asian spices, smoked meat and truffles. Long and lingering (slightly spicy) finish and beautiful balance. Full bodied and dense, but not overpowering. Fine grained tannins and amazing complexity. Great now, but there is another decade (or so) of aging potential. Just incredible. — a month ago

Joel, Paul and 6 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — a month ago

Zach, Sagee and 16 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Have six of these on hold for a bit longer.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T you could easily enjoy one now because the fruit is so special. But years and years to go

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

First time trying a first growth bordeaux. did not disappoint. beautiful aromas, richness of flavor, extremely long finish. wonderful. — 15 days ago

Ira and Jan liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

My last of three.

The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…

This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.

The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals
— 16 days ago

Jeroen, Rick and 8 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

F. Haven't had the 05 and it's a fave BDX producer. Priorities...

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Just peaking in my estimation. May sill have a couple or three years before its decline starts. Opened and sat in the bottle for 2 hours. Poured a glass which sat another hour. Bold forward fruits. Blackberry, Plums, Black Cherry, hints of spice herbs that quickly fade into a smooth, luxurious taste of velvety tannins. Backend is just as the Front, Luxurious Bold Fruit but just a touch of old earth, lite tobacco and chocolate/cherry. — 14 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Tom and 7 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Sounds wonderful!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

Nice review, got a few bottles. Cheers!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1989 pours a garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, leather, cocoa, some graphite, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The fruit is generous and sort of the star of the show. There is no wonder why so many love Cos. Still years and years to go. Drink now with some air and through 2049+. — 19 days ago

Jeroen, Juan and 9 others liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

I always get excited when there’s a bottle of Calon-Ségur open. Classic Saint-Estèphe and, to my palate, these wines consistently deliver what I want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. I believe this bottle was double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with winsome notes of ripe, tart and dried fruits: cassis, mixed brambles, pencil shaving’s, tobacco, capsicum, a whiff of horse blanket, gravelly earth and a mix of herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. I absolutely love it. This is the picture of Bordeaux in the dictionary. Drink now through 2048+. — 22 days ago

Jan, ESF and 10 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

+1 hour decant(some sediment). A gorgeous dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: mesmerizing areomatic notes of dark red fruit, currants, forest floor, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings. Taste: velvety, vibrant, fresh wine with brambly dried blackberry/cherry, earth, graphite, wet stones, and a cedar gamey raspberry long finish. YUM! What a treat to drink, and a success for 03...not too ripe, hot, or roasted. — a month ago

Tom, ESF and 19 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Wow!

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

1/2 hour decant(decent sediment). A gorgeous still dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: seductive perfumed notes of dark fruit, smoked meat, funky earth, cigar box, pencil lead, vanilla oak. Taste: savory wine with dried dark fruit, graphite and gravel, iron, and a kinda astringent smokey tobacco finish. Not my cup of tea...maybe bottle flaw. — 8 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Dave and 10 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2023

Medium deep ruby with a quite thin bright ruby violet rim. This is quite closed on the nose at first with bright cherry fruit , red plum , blueberry, blackberry , some floral hints and underneath a touch of slate . On the palate this is quite focused and lean , lovely red fruits , hint of spiciness and red cherry floral hints . Really fresh , vital acidity , with fine but very noticeable tannins and a very long focused red cherry , mineral tinged finish . Needs time , but is very promising, great freshness. Probably not at the level of the 2021 , tasted previously , but it’s close . Leave another 5-10 years and will show well a further 10. — a day ago

Joe, ESF and 6 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1998

@Doug Powers as promised . Dry leaves and plums on the nose. In the mouth spices, cherry , earth and good acid . Certainly the magnum format kept this alive. However for me it had not become complex and had a very clipped finish. — 14 days ago

Tom, Brian and 23 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Ira Schwartz, I have recently (last 3-4 months) had 750-ml bottles of the 1999 and 2000 VT that, were, frankly disappointing compared to the VT bottles I purchased in the 1980s. They used to be 30-40 year wines that developed slowly in the cellar, those 1999/2000 bottles were fully mature and one bottle was past it. All my VT purchases were from Kermit Lynch, so I don’t really know what changed?

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short reddish rim. Not showing age at all.

Strong nose of black currant, blackberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, light earth, herbs, mediterranean spices, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, cherries, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, black tea, herbs, light vanilla, mediterranean spices and dark chocolates.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced with great complexity.

Needs 2 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

This 17 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink at its peak, although I'm drinking out of a Magnum.

Showing a beautiful nose with lots of complexity. Rich and extracted, elegant and powerful.

Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Aged for 24 months in all new French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$450 (Magnum).
— 8 days ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

This needed lots of air showing mostly black fruits, menthol, leather, graphite, earth, sweet spice & wet tobacco. Although enjoyable now this will continue to develop for many years — a month ago

Tom, Juan and 8 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Tasted blind. Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . Quite classic and elegant, with cigar box , grafite and some dried earth , some slightly toasty notes also . On the palate this shows good balance , fresh acidity , classic blackcurrant , cigar box , earthy touch . Good depth and length , grafite tinged finish , quite correct and no extra sweetness or weight . Good length and a spicy , mineral , blackcurrant tinged finish . Lafite ? Still young , really well balanced. From now and over the next 10 to 15 years. This was actually the Mouton , which was a great surprise, but certainly a pleasant one ! — a month ago

Jeroen, Tom and 9 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035.
— 2 months ago

ESF, Peter and 10 others liked this