Smoke, pepper, chocolate, and oak over blackberry and fig. Starting to bleed the deep dark red color from the edges. Rich and smooth. Paired perfectly with my filet. — 5 years ago
Old world style, dry, honeysuckle — 6 years ago
Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.
Wonderful finish to the evening. It didn’t have as much sweetness to it as I normally think Graham’s does. Mixed berry compote, graham cracker, nutty, and cherry liqueur infused fig. My guess here was late 80s/early 90s port. — 6 years ago
The Clark & Telephone Vineyard PN gave me a long lasting impression, and this Las Alturas is very similar in style in its richness and intensity.
Ripe plum, blackberry jam, eucalyptus, fig, black tea, and Chinese medicinal herbs bursting on the nose. Palate has more texture and a more elegant feel with dark chocolate and spice. Firm and a bit dusty tannins. This tastes more like a blend of Zinfandel and Cab. Nice! But again this is not the type of PN I like. — 7 years ago
WNH Southern gathering hosted by @Mike R and old Heitz vertical (70,74,85) sourced by @Martin G Rivard (from Benchmark) who also contributed some on his own dime. This ‘70 started with a wet cardboard musty nose and a slightly hollow mid palate and astringent finish. As the evening evolved and the steak showed up the wine did a complete 180. More tannins than fruit but it was a structured beauty that may not be at it’s peak but is still a gorgeous wine. Ripe plum, stewed fig, bayleaf. I didn’t get any eucalyptus from this but there’s a strong earthy, old world with a CA spin vibe. After dinner and before the fire pit some of us finished the decanter of this and were impressed at how it was still ascending hours after being opened. — 8 years ago
Surprisingly alive with dried fig, a bit of black cherry & kirsch, some Balsamico. Sweet-savoury yet still quite fresh.
On the palate quite evolved with the tannins very mellow. Orange peel acidity with some balsamic fruit. Sweet & savoury.
I didn’t expect this to last 15y. But it did and is such a pleasant surprise. — 3 years ago
Last night we opened the 2003 Château Beychevelle. Left Bank Bordeaux from Saint-Julien. This is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
On the nose there is black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco, fig, black currant, cedar, black pepper and spice box.
On the palate there is black cherry, black raspberry, black plum, fig, cassis, black currant, tobacco, spice and earth.
This wine has evolved in two years to more rustic and earthy tones since I had last had the 2003. This is still full bodied with medium acidity down from the medium + acidity of two years ago and medium+ fine smooth sweet tannins which still leaves you with a long rustic dark fruit earthy finish. Have a great weekend and please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago
As always this is wonderful! Big wine..smooth as silk..fig..pencil lead..expresso..blackberries..dark chocolate..cassis...earth...eucalyptus and vanilla!
Nice long finish! Will hold on to the next one for another year or so but absolutely no regrets opening this now such a great Cabernet Sauvignon blend! — 6 years ago
CADE 2014 cabernet sauvignon from Howell Mountain. Well. You know what Im going to say... Good God Almighty! What an incredible 2014 Cali Cab! It opens with an explosion of blackberry and blueberry and dark currant. With a hint of fig in the background. Then ever so smoothly comes the buttery velvet mid palate. Followed by big OAK and SMOKE. Followed by the sprinkling of spice and black pepper. The finale is a semi dry pavement of deliciousness that a NASCAR driver would drool over. And no I’m not talking beer and whiskey! - Dr Todd and Herron Family Wines. — 6 years ago
Amazing! Great value to drink now or store for years.
AROMAS: dark fruits, herbs, candied roasted vanilla, a hint of fresh baked cherry crumble. Cassis, cerise, fig, plum, leather, cedar
TASTE: med to med high acidity, med tannins, med to full bodied, nicely balanced. Cerise and toasted vanilla, great undergrowth notes and black red fruits. Simply superb.
-decant 30 min to longer, tasting throughout.
-storage, now to 10 years — 7 years ago
Fig, raisin, chocolate, caramel, all of the best things you can think of are in this Sherry. Wowzas. — 8 years ago
A surprise addition of the night. A great blend, about 75% Cab, 14% merlot with CF and PV filling in the remainder. Plum, blackberry and fig show through nicely. Touches of vanilla. — 3 years ago
"Edgy and full of flavour, the Prisoner is a bold red meant for indulging. On the nose, expect a bursting bouquet of bing cherries, dark chocolate, clove and roasted fig, followed by juicy ripe fruit flavours. Notes of raspberry and boysenberry with hints of pomegranate give way to a lingering taste of warm vanilla on the palate. A long, smooth finish lingers in your mouth. " — 4 years ago
In my mind, there’s no better way to celebrate another trip around the sun than with loved ones, watching the sunset, while sharing a delicious meal and wine pairing. This evening hits the mark!
This wine is a 2nd growth Saint-Julien from the Médoc, left bank, region of Bordeaux, France. When I say 2nd growth, that means the Château from which this wine hails received the second highest quality designation as of part of the “1855 Classification” that took place during the Universal Expedition in Paris in 1855. This quality designation remains intact today despite the centuries that have passed.
This wine is clear with a deep ruby hue and garnet rim variation. On the nose this wine has medium intensity(+) of developing aromas with a large focus on blackberry, fig, cassis, prune, potpourri, incense, anise, cedar, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, earth, leather, and tobacco. On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a medium(+) body, medium alcohol, high tannins, and medium intensity in flavors consistent with the nose. The finish is long.
Interestingly, the fermentation took place in various vessels, including those made from oak, steel, and concrete and then this wine aged in oak barriques (small oak vessels) until it was ready for bottling.
It was also cellared at the Château from harvest until shipping in 2015.
Château Léonville, Grand Vin de Léonville du Marquis de Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Médoc. Vintage 2005. ABV 13%.
This wine has complexity, balance, structure, and length. It’s outstanding. I’m not surprised to see a 100-point rating from Wine Spectator. Thank you @Deke for the amazing Birthday selection! — 5 years ago

Black currant and fig in this Bordeaux blend — 7 years ago
This is the 08 Insignia out of magnum. This drinking beautifully.
On the nose, ripe, ruby, lush fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices with fresh red and very dark flowers.
On the palate, the body is near full. The tannins are beautifully rounded. It guides across the palate. So fresh and beautiful! blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices, river stone, crushed rocks, cedar, with fresh red and very dark flowers. Beautiful round acidity and an elegantly polished finish. — 8 years ago
How'd the 375ml of '59 Chevy w mid-shoulder fill show?
#LIKEABOSS!
Nose of crushed leather furniture, cigar box, fig, Christmas cake, plum & hints of a red cherry cordial
Still a pop of acidity with the fruit, but richness dominated adding raisin to the flavors along w feral animale & shaved dark chocolate taking over on the lengthy finish — 9 years ago
David Kline
Cherry,dried and black; scribbles of graphite in a tinder box. Campfire smoke, and dark tobaccos brood in clusters of black currant. Glints of plum skin and baked raspberries. Cinnamon and cedar shavings. Dried cherry and black berries persist into the palate, with green peppercorns and dried violets dusted in graphite. Smoke snakes around black bread with currants, fig and black raisins. A phenomenal fall treat. That’ll do the trick!
#chateauCosdEstournel
#cosdestournel #saintestèphe #saintestephe #appellationsaintestèphecontrôlée #2010bordeaux #2010 #misenbouteilleálapropriété #Bordeaux #bordeauxrouge #deuxiemecru — 2 years ago