From The Shadows

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.3

From 375ml.

A very good Rhone producer visited in 2015.

At pop & pour, the fruits almost had a mid berry bubble gum character. That toned down almost immediately. Fruits are ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked plums, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy strawberries, chocolate bar to fudge, grilled, smoked meats, black pepper, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, iron pan, black tea, a touch of rubber toy, slight tarriness, dry herbs, roasted chestnuts, tobacco leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, hints of mint, dark, red flowers, violet’s, nice acidity with a well balanced-structured, stiffly tensioned with a lush finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on earthiness & spice.

Plenty of life left in this 2012, even in 375ml.
— 4 months ago

Jay, Scott@Mister and 18 others liked this

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Boom! From the first sip - this wine was explosive and delicious.

Dark and black fruits come out and then lend to some red fruit and while it has good depth, this wine is very smooth.

Seems like it’s in the drinking window
— 4 months ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

This was actually the first wine we had at the Bordeaux first growth lunch last Saturday (which wasn’t a First Growth). No notes taken but it did show the quality of the 1982 vintage particularly from Paulliac, and was still going strong. — 5 months ago

Serge, Ceccherini and 23 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1975

From mag. Lovely supple fruit. Tangy marmalade and lemon honey with toasted notes. Mellow and intense with lovely acidity. In a great place — 6 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Ceccherini, Bob and 12 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

From a Napa vintage that I recall as being so-so, this wine shows the Howell Mountain terroir without the normally harsh tannins that were characteristic of Dunn HM wines in the 1980s. But, honestly, this is really lovely, suave, red fruited, with a medium-long finish, and seems way younger than I expected from a 37-year-old Napa Cabernet!! — 6 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, ESF and 9 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Even more fantastic than the previous bottle of 2010 I enjoyed a year ago. Decanted and enjoyed over 7 hours. This was good from first pour but became great and then magnificent over the next 3.5 and 7 hours. It was still full of verve on the last sip! Early only it was more dark fruit but over time the wines softened and became a bit sweeter and rounder. Tremendous length and complexity. — 7 months ago

Tom, Shay and 20 others liked this

Long Shadows Vintners

Pedestal Columbia Valley Merlot 2016

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark inky in color with a reddish rim.

Very pretty nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, Indian spices, cola and light black tea.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, light vanilla, dark coffee, Indian spices, light cola licorice and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious 9 year old Merlot from Columbia Valley. Rich and extracted. Spicy and entertaining.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Smooth and elegant. Fruit forward and tangy. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75.
— 9 months ago

Ted, Robin and 12 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

From last night- stellar, wonderfully balanced — 10 years ago

Leila Reeder-Esparza
with Leila

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

Peter Marks
9.6

From magnum. From my daughter Adrienne's birth year and beautifully crafted by my buddy Rob Davis. Good luck to Adrienne as she starts a new page in her life in Atlanta! — 11 years ago

Gary, Tom and 3 others liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1964

Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1964 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining and significant signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with mostly tertiary notes at this point: cherry fruit leather, actual leather, decomposing log. On the palate, the wine is dry with tannin fully integrated and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Alive…but this bottle is old and tired. Drink now. — 4 months ago

Dave, Vanessa and 13 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart mixed fruit: Blackberries, black cherry, dill, olives, leather, toasted coconut, some vanilla, dried green 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 long. This is in a very lovely place. Drink now through 2044.  — 4 months ago

Ely, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1962

From mag. Gorgeous soft plum and red cherry. Floral notes, hints of iodine and violets. Excellent. In great shape. — 6 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Jan, Ceccherini and 6 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2017

Mo
9.2

WS: 93. Baked cherry, raspberry ganache and warm fig flavors are ripe and expressive, with a pleasing counterpoint and added detail from rich notes of loamy earth and leather, plus accents of bay leaf, vanilla and red licorice. There's a supple generosity on the palate, trimmed nicely by fine-grained tannins and a tang of orange peel acidity. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2032. 35,000 cases made, 9,000 cases imported.

Alison Napjus
Issue Date: Aug 31, 2024
Release Price: $45/750mL
— 6 months ago

Long Shadows Vintners

Chester-Kidder Columbia Valley Red Blend 2006

Several flavors in balance with lots of place. Not too weird. — 6 months ago

Tom, Shay and 1 other liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

Somm David T
9.5

The last of the 2002 in mags brought from the property. Delicious. I would have thought these would have been saved for their member parties. So, a nice surprise.

From The Cellar event at Pebble Beach Food & Wine.
— 7 months ago

Jay, Neil and 17 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Looks like fun! Hope you had a great time.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Ron R it’s a good event even worth the effort to travel from the other coast. Cheers! 🍷

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

From Magnum. And very good. — 2 years ago

Sarah, Milissa and 2 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991

Complex, balanced, elegant. Medium body, silky tannins and texture, endless finish that doesn’t overwhelm but just goes on and on. Wow. May be the best wine I’ve had from Napa. — 6 years ago

Vasanth, Ira and 10 others liked this

Ca' del Grifone

From Old Vine Zinfandel Primitivo

Raj
9.3

I drank this after using an aerator. Immediately scent of braised beef and fresh rubber on the nose. Meaty flavor on the way down. Truly is best wine under $5 at TJ's — 9 years ago

Long Shadows Vintners

Sequel Columbia Valley Syrah 2009

One of my faves. I ordered two half bottles - imagine my delight when I received two full bottles at the half bottle price. — 12 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2017

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2017 (S) pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with pretty notes of mostly red, tart fruit: strawberry, raspberry, Montmorency cherry, licorice, dried green herbs, menthol, and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and just a touch mousy but within the acceptable range. Refreshing and a lovely pairing with burgers on a warm Spring evening. Drink now through 2032. — 4 months ago

Ceccherini, Lyle and 14 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Early to open this, but blossomed after a good decant. From 375ml. — 4 months ago

Tom liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Last bottle. Time to drink is now, don’t think this will improve from here. Needed a bit of air to come together, but overall remained somewhat muted. — 5 months ago

Ira liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.5

It is really no surprise that this 05 is incredible and yet still extremely youthful. This 05 will out live almost anyone 50 years old. It is good for another 45 years.

I had their 16 La Dame last weekend & commented it should not be opened for another 10 years.

The core on the nose is dark velvet black currants. There’s a bit of melted dark chocolate-mousse. Ripe but subtle blackberries, black raspberries, black plum-plum pudding, very dark cherries, some mulberries, mocha powder, dark, rich earth, dry river stone, limestone, anise, mix of dry/fresh herbs, fine, undertone of baking spices, moist grey clay, slightly dry tobacco, sandalwood, mild, elegant spice, just the slightest hint of mint, very, slightly candied, dark, withering flowers & red roses.

The palate is rich, round with velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark fruits blended in melted dark-mocha chocolate. Blackberries, black raspberries, both plums w/ heavy skin, dark cherries, poached to slightly baked strawberries & raspberries over the top. Dry bay leaf-sage, moist clay, rich, dark, turned earth, dry river stone, limestone powder, stem inclusion, red licorice/cola, anise to black licorice candy, sandalwood to soft cedar, slightly moist tobacco, used leather, mild, dark spice, a touch & just a touch of tomato leaf, hints of cardamom, dark/red withering flowers with just a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a very well knitted, tensioned, balanced, structured, elegantly polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on nice earthiness & softly muddled spice.

Paired w/ their bone-in Ribeye. Best steakhouse steak that I’ve had out and not made by friends and or myself. Rich fat, tender and nice flavor. Lacks a bit of char and Napa Valley Rub from wholespice.com.

Open in another 15-20 years.

A real shot at a 💯 in another 15-20+.

@Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas
— 6 months ago

Peter, Paul and 23 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

The Montrose stuff is a true force of nature. That'90 vintage will outlive us all combined. Ridiculously fresh once you get past the brett.

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

From magnum — 6 months ago

Peter, Jan and 3 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and half a % each of Malbec and Merlot, aged 15 months in 33% new French oak, 51% of fruit from Atlas Peak District, deep Ruby with aromas of vibrant dark fruit, sweet spice and herbs. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with tobacco spice, toasty oak, cinnamon and floral notes. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, cedar, mocha and mineral character, Nice, should age well. — 9 months ago

Juan, Andrew and 7 others liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

2001 vintage? Please. Only Krug could produce a wine this good from such a bad vintage. It has massive strength, minerality, a finish that dances on your palate. Tastes 20 years younger. You almost forget how wimpy the mousse is. — 6 years ago

Craig Williams
with Craig
Larry, Craig and 6 others liked this
Craig Williams

Craig Williams

This was amazingly great!

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1989

Brian Duffy
9.5

Outstanding! There is the perfect moment for a bottle to be opened and tonight was it. It was the wine equivalent of a album that you can listen to from start to finish. — 9 years ago

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Young, red and black fruits. Wonderfully balanced. Brought a smile to my face and a 'wow' to my mouth. Splendid from such a difficult vintage, and can't wait to taste it again with a few more years on it. — 10 years ago

Tim Herrmann
with Tim