First & Local

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1995

5/25 with Howard. Lotsa power. Hard edged at first with lots of structure. Mellowed beautifully. Complex. Became port like. 90 — 5 months ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

All leather and cigars at first, and then the fruit showed up after an hour. Delicious. — 7 months ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

No formal notes . Medium ruby . Bit more coffee and roasted character at first , touch of oak perhaps. Quite rich and rounded on the palate at first, good acidity , good length . More red fruit , more delicate after a while , mineral , oyster shell , mineral and leaner on the long finish . Very classic , grafite tinged . This improved with air and really gained in complexity with time . I would be tempted to leave this a little longer or give it a longer decant . No rush here , will continue well for a further 10 years . Tied as my favourite wine of the flight with the Latour. — 8 months ago

Anthony, Andrew and 7 others liked this

First Drop Wines

Mother's Ruin Cabernet Sauvignon

Good full bodied cab. Smooth — 2 years ago

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2015

First try of Foillard and it does live up to the (high) reputation. There’s such a lovely tamed softness here with exceptional integration and length on the palate that I don’t feel the need to qualify that in the context of the grape/region. This is a sophisticated wine that I’m happily drinking now but will surely age well for 5-10 years. — 4 years ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1999

BDX with Korean BBQ? Why not. All leather, tobacco and dust at first, the peppery black and red fruit slowly emerged as we bided our time with a few rounds of soju and Hite lager. Give it a bit of air and then have at it. — 7 years ago

Screaming Eagle

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

My first ever "Eagle" and it delivers ! Clear 100 pointer for me - beautiful !
— 8 years ago

Dick, Stef and 5 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

This lost the papal battle due to jamminess but it was the first indication of greatness for this 2000 vintage — 9 years ago

Anthony, David and 1 other liked this
David Mayfield

David Mayfield Influencer Badge

99s are much more to my liking than 00s--I agree with you. Too ripe.

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2013

Great subtle gamay. I've always loved this wine (produced organically with no added yeast). I first tried this wine around 1992. Loved it then (bought a case) and it's still great today. This family knows what's it's doing with this wine. — 10 years ago

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 1990

The first vintage release from Harlan estate. Now I can say I have been lucky to try every vintage of this wine. Long finish, with a lot less of a ripe attack than anticipated. Long life ahead of this wine made in a different era in napa. #timetraveling — 10 years ago

Drew, Maxence and 8 others liked this
Jason Heller

Jason Heller Influencer Badge

Have you had the 1987-1989?
Marty Winters

Marty Winters Influencer Badge

@Jason Heller I have had the 89 but no 88 or 87 yet.

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Medium lemon colour . Persistent and fine perlage. This is quite restrained at first with lemon oil , toasty baked pastry and oyster shell hints . On the palate this is really quite intense , honied lemon , ginger, toasty yellow fruits , toasted nuts and quite mineral, oyster shell hints. Long and complex on the finish , fresh acidity , intense and complete . Needs a little more time, will show even better in 5 -10 years or so and over the next 10-15 years . — 5 months ago

Jeroen, Tom and 18 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Have a couple of these and figured it was still a hold. Nice notes and score. Might have to open one. Cheers!🥂
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Thanks @Somm David T , yes if you have a few certainly open one , but it’s best days are certainly a few years off ! Enjoy !

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 — 7 months ago

Vino, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Still packing a tannic punch, fruit is very much in the background. A little disjointed at this point? Will wait a while on my other bottles. This was my favorite vintage at first taste. — 10 months ago

Ira and Tom liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1981

🏅 Rating 93+/100 (4,35⭐)

Tasted from magnum.

Ruby color with tawny hue showing the age. First nose has a slight touch of iron. Fruit is ripe and sweet. Vegetable scent of tomato stems suggesting presence of Cabernet Sauvignon. Sandy tannins of Sangiovese. Amazing how bottle aging makes the wine so smooth and satin.

Mostly tertiary aromas, but very well holding the age and could last for at least 5 more years without any signs of decline

Elegant expression of famous Tignanello.

1981 was outshadowed by great 1982. It was 10th anniversary vintage and is considered a very fine one.

Key oenological data:
Average sugar content of grapes at harvest 21.00%
Average total acidity of the grapes 7.80%
Alcohol content after fermentation 13.00
Average fermentation temperature 28C
Length of fermentation 13 days
Acidity of wine after malo 5.90
Ageing in 225 litre barrels 20 months
Bottle ageing in our cellars 18 months

======
I have published the article with a story of Tignanello, the emblematic SuperTuscan wine from Antinori.

\- What were the key factors of its success?
\- What makes this wine stand out from many other wines form Tuscany?

Best enjoyed with a glass of Tignanello.

Read the full article at www.stasmedvedev.lv/wine

---
Instagram: @wine_talks_club
— 4 years ago

Severn and Ira liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Red raspberries, cherries, tobacco, and cedar? Delicious. Decant a solid hr first — 8 years ago

Trent Tishkowski
with Trent
Ron and Kim liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Somm David T
9.5

This is the most picturesque Chateau in Bordeaux. Oh...and they make a pretty amazing Bordeaux. It's a good first look at the 03 vintage from my five bottle set. There are steak wines and then there are steak wines. This was a 10 pair with the T-bone...Heaven. The tannins have softened but have many years ahead to get to that perfect place. The mouthfeel is full, round, creamy and elegant. The fruits have a not too sweet liqueur style. They are; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, sweet tobacco leaf, anise, used leather, black tea, used coffee grounds, rich wet black turned earth, stones, dry red florals, spice; clove, nutmeg, baking spices; very light vanilla, touch of caramel, dark chocolate and acidity that pours over the palate. There is the start of harmony in the structure, length, balance and tension. The finish lasts a full two-minutes and it crushed with the T-bone. Next bottle in 5-7 years. For the legions of you on Delectable crushing only young Napa Cabernet, you have no idea what you're missing in aged Bordeaux...forget about it...even vs. well aged Napa Cabernet. Respect!!! 3-4 hour decant and it needed every second of it. — 9 years ago

Eric, jesus and 20 others liked this
Sofia Jalilie

Sofia Jalilie

Such a treat to enjoy a wine that makes delicious food that much better! Look forward to the next one- cheers to now!
James Cahill

James Cahill

Agree on the aged BDX comment.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 1991

Charles Antin
9.7

Love at first sip. — 10 years ago

Eric, Brandon and 8 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

An incredible complex layered Bordeaux blend, is better now than when I first experience it out of barrel. @winewatch @cheapwinefinder #WINE @Sassodoro @sociallybrenda @larrywyn — 11 years ago

Erik and Joseph liked this

Parker Coonawarra Estate

Terra Rossa First Growth Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Jason
9.8

Ethereal genius from the old stalwart — 12 years ago

Jamie liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

My first experience with a bdx with this type of age. It had a note of green pepper on the nose and had a lot of life left. — 6 months ago

Ron, Jay and 7 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2012 pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Montmorency cherry, blackberry, dill, toasted coconut, olive, zatar, and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This only got better with air and might be my favorite young Tondonia since I first drank the 2006 vintage. Really good stuff already! Drink now with some patience and through 2042. — 7 months ago

Daniel, Peter and 12 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2013

First time with Taittinger. Crisp with overall lighter mouthfeel. Taste notes include flesh of white fruit. Maybe would be better with some age on it. — 9 months ago

Meghana Kaloji
with Meghana
Jan, Ira and 5 others liked this

Benton-Lane

First Class Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Deliciously decadent, yet balanced Pinot that held up nicely with a Porterhouse steak! Ample plum, black cherry and sweet earthy notes with velvety-smooth tannins — 4 years ago

Paul liked this

Georges Dubœuf

First Wine of the Harvest Beaujolais Nouveau Gamay 2020

Red berries on nose. Strawberry, blackberry, plum and leather with bright acidity and assertive tannins. Too tannic on its own, but excellent with Thanksgiving dinner — 5 years ago

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Dark ruby. Opaque. Notes of dark plums, cassis, rhubarb, tobacco. Has a green element to it. At first it’s very linear and one dimensional in the mouth but rounds out with air. Nice for the vintage. — 7 years ago

Jonathan, Brian and 7 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Mike R
9.0

Road wine so ease off me please and I usually enjoy stag leap but last night so so

First off o smiled but because I drank entire bottle

Color was fine smell was aromatic but from there the other things were off

Taste was not what I expected as was too much heat and alcohol and finish was weak

Sadly I have a few and will be handing off as gifts to people I really don't know when needed - sorry to al future gift receivers
— 8 years ago

Mike, Jonathan and 38 others liked this
Weijie Shi (Jay)

Weijie Shi (Jay) Influencer Badge

Agree. Got some heat attack as well last time I tried it.

Gros Ventre Cellars

First Born Pinot Noir 2013

Magnum...love it! — 10 years ago

Rachel Caggiano
with Rachel
Rachel liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2008

First time tasting Jamet. Nice deepness on this hard vintage. Hints of smoky lard, cumin and pepper with a touch of flower. Ready to drink. — 10 years ago

Martine liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Needs to breathe a bit at first, but drinks well. Tastes more expensive than it is. Good red! — 12 years ago

First Press

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Great wine with pork or chicken — 12 years ago