First Wine Of The Harvest

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Super sweet and oaky on first open but matured up with a 3 hour decant

Still quite fruity but with steak, it gives a lot of red berry fruit and the oak is reasonable and the sweetness is gone with the airtime.

Overall good wine but I thought it lost out to the Paul Hobbs LPV ‘14.
— 7 months ago

Bob, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Last tasted 9.25.23 (9.2) after 1.5 hours decanted. Popped and decanted this for lunch. Great fill and solid cork. Throwing a bit of sed but less than anticipated. Meh nose. Medium body initially. Started off on the rich side of the ledger but not plush. Had some smoothness afoot. Tasted after 45 mins open, 1.75 hours open and 8 hours open. First two were unspectacular. After lounging in the decanter 8 hours, wine had firmed up, thinned out, picked up plenty of secondary flavors and had that previously missing grip. If you're gonna open this during the holidays or anytime soon, do it very very early...otherwise, it'll be a total waste. Wine has miles to go. No rush to crush but just air it out in advance properly. 10.16.24. — 9 months ago

Ira, Jan and 21 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Nice long description!

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2004

Presented double-blind. Visually, showing a garnet color with an opaque core. Some slight browning at the edge; could be varietal characteristics…could be signs of age? On the nose, there’s lovely cherry fruit with a kiss of barnyard, some tomato leaf, earth and spices. There seemed to be signs of oak but likely large format (thinking botti or foudre). On the palate, cherries again with some bramble fruit, earth, and mushrooms mixed in for good measure. Medium + tannin; medium + acid. I vacillated between Italy and Southern France, ultimately settling on Brunello from a very good, traditional producer. I was so impressed to see this was Beaucastel. My first Beaucastel with some real age. If this is what these wines become with age, it’s no wonder why they are so beloved. Loads of life left. Bravo. — 4 years ago

Peter, Ely and 15 others liked this

Dolce Winery

Late Harvest Napa Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2012

Honey, apricot, a bit of hay. Paired with apple pie. — 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

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Drank this over the course of 6 days using Coravin...still too young, but the wine really opened up by the last day. Smells and tastes like a Grand Bordeaux St. Julien wine as it should. I used to this wine to test the Coravin. It is clear that oxidation starts right after the first pour. — 9 years ago

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Harvest Select Columbia Valley Sweet Riesling 2013

Sweet smooth crisp taste .... Definitely one of my favorites — 9 years ago

Georges Dubœuf

First Wine of the Harvest Beaujolais Nouveau Gamay 2015

Open and drink. Doesn't hold its taste long after its opened. — 10 years ago

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

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

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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.

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 — 10 years ago

Erik and Joseph liked this

First Drop Wines

Mother's Milk Shiraz 2019

Dark ruby color with purple highlights. Aromas of blackberry, tar, forest floor and black licorice. Flavors of dark plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, baking spices and black cherry. Long velvety finish, balanced acidity and smooth tannins. Fruit forward and bombastic, but also nicely textured and somewhat savory. Excellent value. — 8 months ago

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Jeremy Shanker
8.9

One of the most disappointing first growths I’ve had. Not sure if the 11s need more time, or if they’ll just never come around. Atypically lean vintage of this with a fairly predictable and uninspired aromatic profile. — 3 years ago

Ira, Bob and 6 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2017

🚨WINE HACK🚨 If you 1) own a sodastream, but no expensive wine gadgets 2) have a wine which needs to come off sediment but you don’t want to expose to oxygen [eg low/no so2 gamay], try decanting the wine carefully into a clean empty bottle pre-flooded with a few gentle pumps of co2 from your sodastream. Co2 is heavier than air. This works and I swear by it!

The Foillard was beautiful. Licorice, black raspberries, purity and poise that reminds me why I fell in love with Beaujolais in the first place, and affirms what has been an oft-times rocky love affair ever since.
— 4 years ago

Dawn, Michael and 33 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1961

Tasted blind. Light reddish/scarlet and mostly translucent. Notes of red fruit, tobacco leaf, violets. Very linear in its delivery, with no tannins and a mid-palate that is very light. Very refined. Guessed 61 Mouton. A good but not great Lafite... the critics are correct in marking this a level below some of the other 61 first growths. Drink up. (M's 60th bday 11th of 14) — 4 years ago

Jan, Sharon and 32 others liked this
Ron R

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Excellent. Sorry it wasn’t quite there for you on this occasion.

Rivers-Marie

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017

Kirk F
9.3

First time for me here, an amazing nose of caramel corn. Terrific wine, plush and juicy - such a great value! — 6 years ago

Paul, P and 8 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Several stashed away and brought to the front of the cellar. The time is now. Slight variation from the last bottle. Olive tapenade nose at first then showing prune and raisins. Tannins still lift the profile of this wine. Bright acidity. Smoked Mushroom 🍄 complements a strong finish. — 8 years ago

Mike, Carl and 22 others liked this
Shay A

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You told me about this on our last call and you thought it was a toss up...glad it showed well!
Matt Duncan

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How was the bouquet? The best AV's usually excel aromatically with age while losing mid-palate weight.

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir

First night dark cherry and a bit too acidic. Second night balances out with layers of character... Spent more time smelling than sipping. So glad to get this piece of quintessential California in Hong Kong. 2012. — 9 years ago

Chris, Jody and 2 others liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

This is our go to wine we had on one of our first dates in SF — 10 years ago

Heath cedillo
with Heath

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2005

2005 vintage in Sept 2015. Deep red color. Bouquet described as "funky" by server lol... It does have a very musty aroma at first but opens up nicely to a covered fruit with hint of pepper. Flavor: at first opening, bright fruit up front balanced with some (not overwhelming) bitter tannins, evolving into a full-mouth of cherry with astringent tannin and then into a moderately long slightly overly acidic linger. But this wine really came into its own after being decanted and sitting for about 90 minutes - acid lingerhas smoothed out and the full, round, fruity character has matured into a really delicious wine. Not a "bold" wine, but definitely one to savor. — 10 years ago

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1981

First time in tasting my birth year and it was worth every sip. Layers of dark berries w/ earthy notes of tobacco and caramel. — 10 years ago

Ciprian and Serge liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2013

2013 vintage. Both excellent fill and cork. Decanted with infinitesimal sed. Slightly silvery color. Tasted after 1.5 and 2.5 hours open. Medium body. Nose slightly reticent during both tastes. Black tea and eucalyptus prominent first go round with both those still present but minimized second pass. Sprinkle in some cracked black pepper and white sage for round two and we have a winner. Finish lasted over a minute and the concentration was as expected given the decent street cred. No rush to crush but open waay early/decant this if enjoying in the next handful of years. 10.24.24. — 9 months ago

Ira, Bob and 24 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2000

The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.

Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)

Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...

Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.

Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.

This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.

I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules.
— 4 years ago

Andrew, Arden and 41 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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It did a pretty good job last night!
Joseph Barsky

Joseph Barsky

Best cave tour on our visit to this area. Amazing history as well.
Severn Goodwin

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@Joseph Barsky We haven't visited the Rhone yet, but Jaboulet will be on my short list of must visits the next time we're in France again.

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

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1976

Tasted blind. Brownish red and cloudy. Opaque. Nose of cola, earth, cherry and Heath bar. Ok in the mouth but unfulfilling. Short finish. Tannins completely resolved. Liked it at first but with more air this collapses to notes of just soy sauce and port. Interesting to try. — 7 years ago

Severn, Brian and 9 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Margaux was going through a bad patch then. Rebounded under new owners in82

Screaming Eagle

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Maybe I over scored this. My first Screagle bottle. Unreal blind tasting against '12 Peter Michael #1 wine of the year and '12 Colgin. What an evening! — 9 years ago

David, Mike and 5 others liked this
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

Glass please
David Goldfinger

David Goldfinger

LMK when in palm beach and we can do another tasting.
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

You are bowling a perfect game & knocking down some incredible beauties!!

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

For 30 years old, amazingly young. Not a ton of rim separation. Very green and tight at first, opened to start showing fruit. — 10 years ago

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

The first bottle my wonderful hubby and I shared all those years ago. Great then. Better now. Smooth and slightly tanen with a touch of dryness. — 10 years ago

George M Wood
with George
Lee liked this
Lee White

Lee White

Go Nury and George! Better with time!

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1975

B
10

Magnum 1975 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet. Drank w K at the 4th of July beach party. Interesting comp to the magnum of 1982 BV. We decanted this for a while before drinking and though we preferred the BV at first, which had more fruit, by the end of the night, we thought this wine had more nuance to it. — 10 years ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

My first Opus. Full nose of earth, and deep, complex fruit on the first taste. Opened up really nice as we waited for our beef. — 12 years ago