Fifth Note Cellars

Jacques Selosse

Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

So so goo! Just needs a bit of air in the glass to take on volume and toasty note. — 7 years ago

Severn, Patrick and 7 others liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Big citrus rind note ona very weighty fran. Big and delicious...as usual. — 8 years ago

David liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

This wine had some tobacco and earth FUNK after it was opened up. The herbaceous and tobacco ash note on the nose was almost identical to the 1980 Beringer State Lane cab. This did blow off after an hour, but the wine was less fruit than I thought it would have been. Lots of dark figgy jam. Tobacco and cigar box. I'm sure the fruit came back after I left, but this would have been 2 hours after opening and just didn't have the time to see this one though, hence the "NR" rating. Impressed by this wine, and probably one of the older Monte Bello wines I've been able to drink. — 8 years ago

Misha's Vineyard Wines

The High Note Pinot Noir

2009 seems a little lighter then the last I tried good acidity — 9 years ago

Serge, Steve and 4 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2013

Very complex and delicate Chardonnay. Nice front push, dry with slight note that comes through — 9 years ago

Cantina Bartolo Mascarello

Barolo Nebbiolo 2000

2000 vintage. From Jay. 2000 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Black fruits, Black cherry with some menthol. Good sweetness on the entry. Good acidity. Weak on the rear pallet. Finish is somewhat weak. Nice ruby colour. More in the style of what Maria Teresa's father than her. Fruit is much more muted. It has integrated well over the years from the initial barnyard aromatics that it displayed when initially bottled. Drink no to 2020. 89/100 — 10 years ago

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2010

What a beauty! Creamy, defined and rich. Perfumy with flowers, mint, sweet apples, minerality and very concentrated honest power. Acidity is angular, very bright and holds this huge palate together nicely (and oh boy, I wish I had a time machine to see how it evolves in 10 years). I'm still trying to crack that dominant aftertaste note — it's almost cake-like sweet, with some nutty backbone and caramel on the top. Absolutely in love. — 10 years ago

Greg, Beau and 17 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1977

Max Kogod
9.7

1977. Floored by extreme caramel note on nose and palate completely backed up by gorgeous purity of fruit, acid, levity and all the tertiary elements that make Martha's Vyd what it is. — 11 years ago

Anthony, Bill and 11 others liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2006

look: pale ruby red core with slightly garnet rim.  medium viscosity.

smell: medium intensity aromas of roasted red bell pepper, allepo pepper flake, raspberry sauce, roasted jalapeno.  overall, sweet and ripe fruit smells followed by slight iron-like gravel note.

taste: medium + acidity, nearly high acidity, medium - tannin, flavors of smoked tomato, sour cherry, ending with a note of sweet dried/roasted pepper.  

profile: flavor is 'bursty' and drops out quickly and then hangs in a very subtle low way on the palate.  
purchased with Somm Select. honestly, it could have cellared a few more years.
— 11 years ago

Seven, Julia and 11 others liked this
Madeline Puckette

Madeline Puckette Influencer Badge

France Loire Chinon Olga Raffault 2006 'Les Picasses'
Julia Weinberg

Julia Weinberg Influencer Badge

Love these wines!

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Kevin Walsh
8.9

2008. Dried cherry, black tea, dried mushroom and rose, prosciutto. Minerality is reminiscent of standing on a dry, dusty dirt road. Only criticism is that it falls off in the mid palate, but finishes with a nice gamey note. — 12 years ago

Aubert

Eastside Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016

Gave this an hour decant. Straw color. Full bodied. Nose of lemon curd, subtle tropical fruits, melon, buttery popcorn, and a mineral note. The palette seems to float. Lots of glycerol, suspended on a ball of acid in the midpalette. The acid finishes long with bright citrus. — 7 years ago

Shay, Mark and 1 other liked this

Alessandro Viola

Note di Grillo

Wonderful Sicilian natural wine! Deep gold (let’s call it light orange) in color. Hints of grilled lemons with a hint of smoke. Beautifully “funky.” A true winner! Great with appetizers! Thank you Franky Bella for this selection. — 8 years ago

Kasey Vanderhoff
with Kasey

Tendril Wine Cellars

C-Note Whole Cluster Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013

My favorite Pinot in a lineup from Tony Rynders. — 8 years ago

Doug Sayed
with Doug
Doug Sayed

Doug Sayed Premium Badge

Punching way above it's vintage wieght, the whole cluster fermentation really stands out in its structure. Bravo.
9.2

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Dark colour. Intense cherry note with a hint of oak. Ripe, soft, balanced and sweet tannins and yet with descent acidity that gives it a bit of freshness. After taste isn't long, not lingering. — 9 years ago

Serge liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Giving absolute credence to the reputation that the wines from the Margaux commune show, both displayed an elegance allied with a subtle power and perfect balance, especially 2005.

2000 had a trace pyrazine note that I found unexpected, and quite frankly not that enjoyable. Outside of that the wine was perfect. The second bottle did not throw it as strong, so not exactly in the clear on this night.

The 2005 was in perfect shape, drink now or age it another 20 years easy, this was so enjoyable and balanced with perfect tannin integration and a seamless, dense and pure finish that sailed on forever.

#margaux #bordeaux
#wine
— 9 years ago

Eric Gonzales
with Eric
Andrew, Daniel P. and 7 others liked this

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 1999

2 Flawless bottles make for a happy girl. Acid , minerality, brioche, white flowers, almonds, slight note of apricot and citrus. — 10 years ago

Paul, Velma and 1 other liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1996

Brandon Jamieson
9.2

Amazing balance, soft tannin, burst of black fruit from start to finish. Sweet pipe tobacco note mid palate. Since my in laws were watching the kids, my wife and I decided to indulge. — 10 years ago

Joseph and Andy liked this

Scarpetta

Timido Fifth Edition Spumante Rosé Colli Orientali del Friuli Rosé Blend

Simple and enjoyable. We do not need food for this. Refreshing rate is high with just the perfect amount of berries and LSD in my mouth. Pink wine with bubbles for this price is a novelty and just so barely acceptable even the bubbles and color do enough justice to just keep them coming...please more yes please thank you this balancing act is easy. — 11 years ago

Arturo Enciso
with Arturo
Anthony and Velma liked this

G.D. Vajra

Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2010

Great vintage, no doubt. Wild strawberry, with an almost Oriental spice note that emerges with an hour of air-one might think Burgundy. This shows great texture and nuance, certainly beyond the Nebbiolo from the same vintage. — 11 years ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Elegant wine with blackcurrant note! — 12 years ago

Laury LuoYang Qiu
with Laury and Yang
KP liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2014

I will preface this note by disclosing that I am generally not a fan of Super Tuscans. I like old school Toscana. But I will try to be objective here. The nose is very evocative of a classified growth Bordeaux: lots of cedary, gravelly scents and some dark berry fruit underneath. In the mouth it is concentrated and soft, but develops weight in the back half of the palate. Some peppery heat from alcohol at the end too. I know it’s predominantly Sangiovese, but it really does taste very Left Bank, except for a little note redder fruit at the end. — 7 years ago

Angelo Casagrande
with Angelo
Mike, Ira and 17 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Good review and i agree with your bias on Super Tuscans.
James Forsyth

James Forsyth Influencer Badge

Great note.

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay

Medium ruby color and a pronounced nose of raspberry, violet and a spice note reminiscent of sandalwood incense. Lovely medium body with silky texture. Good acid balance for food pairing and a long lovely finish. Wonderful evocation of serious Beaujolais — 8 years ago

Douglas and Greg liked this
Douglas Heye

Douglas Heye

I remember when you first had that!
Lyn Farmer

Lyn Farmer Influencer Badge

You have a very good memory!

Langmeil

The Fifth Wave Barossa Grenache 2013

Stunning fruit filled flavour. Good depth and joyous with BBQ pork ribs + apple sweet potato bake! — 9 years ago

E. Guigal

Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2010

Kids down - Exploring French wine with Jen out of town! Muted nose of blueberries and currants. Gamey taste with notes of anise and cherries. Nice mouthfeel if a bit one-note. — 9 years ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1994

James Parker Huston, CWE
9.3

It's a fifth growth type of day. Cheers! — 9 years ago

Eric, Velma and 11 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991

1991 vintage. Rating 9.4. Beautiful garnet color. Incredibly smooth. Note the fire in the background in the outdoor fireplace. Lovely evening with my beautiful wife. Life could not be better! — 10 years ago

Zachary liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Jimmy Smith
9.4

2001: going into a black olive, black truffle note. Rich meaty notes, vibrantly meated, smoky, leather, tobacco, cigar. Towards full, complex, chewy. Light liquorice, light black truffle. Tip top. — 10 years ago

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Une petite note d'amertume mais c'est un régal — 11 years ago

Maxime liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Wow! The nose reminds me of a full litter box, not appealing descriptor, but the flavor is floral, almost spicy but stops immediately and goes a different direction. The. You get hit with that Classic French fruit. Very developed. Mid-note tannins, finishes dry and clean, keeps you coming back for another taste. — 11 years ago

Eric liked this

High Note

Elevated Uco Valley Malbec 2012

Slight fruit up front, dry finish — 11 years ago