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Gary Farrell

Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2015

Most of the Farrell wines really do strike a very nice balance between buttery and acidic. This one is no different. Definite notes of butter, but also has a more acidic and tart side. The wine poured a medium straw color into the glass. The nose was butter and honey. Quite nice, actually. The entry was immediately more of a softer, full bodied, rounded edged wine that was all butter up front. Melon and mango abounded through the middle of the wine and finished with a lot of sharp acidity. This wine is insanely young. I felt that this one really could have used a 1-hour decant, and probably was murdered tonight, but it was the best option in a cellar of red wine when the chef calls for a white! Drink with a lot of bottle decant, or hold for 1-2 yrs before opening. — 8 years ago

Eric, Bill and 11 others liked this

Domaine de la Janasse

Chaupin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2012

2012 Donaine De La Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone blend. Omg I am drinking a French wine from the Rhone. Im not sure what this is supposed to taste like, but for a 14.5 % it sure is light in color and thin on the palate. The bouquet is black cherry pie. The initial palate is Boysenberry and Black licorice.I almost taste cinnamon and oak. The finish is dry on the front part of the tongue. There is a desire for more. Not bad For FRenchia — 8 years ago

Trixie, Ellen and 15 others liked this

Bonneau du Martray

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2001

01' Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay. Color- Light golden. By looking at it, I would've never guessed it's 16 years old. BIG Nose...Green apple, floral. Palate...stone fruits, melon, peach & pineapple. A slight bit of creamy notes on the front & mid palate. A light backbone of acidity. Stone fruits minerality & soft pineapple carry through to a nice finish. Drinking at it peak now. @Ron R Thank you for this simply amazing bottle. Can't wait to tip a glass with you soon. Cheers to you and Anne-Marie! — 8 years ago

David, Eric and 51 others liked this
Ron R

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So glad you enjoyed it @David L. One of my most fave French whites. Cheers!
David L

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@Ron R What a great bottle of wine. Thanks for this treat!

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Almost perfect - leather and earth at the front, strong blackberry and blueberry in the middle, long finish that isn't too tannic — 9 years ago

Kathryn Litten
with Kathryn

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

B
10

Magnum 1982 Chateau Leoville-Las Cases Bordeaux. Big group holiday dinner hosted by A&V M at Sp private room. Had a lot of funk up front, but mellowed a lot as the wine opened up in the glass. Not a lot of fruit left in this wine, but very enjoyable. — 9 years ago

Mr.Pink liked this

Groth Vineyards & Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Lots of dark fruits up front, strong body with some oak. Lighter finish than expected, but enjoyable. — 10 years ago

Hall Wines

Kathryn Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Greg Ballington
9.0

Blind Tasting MOT=90
Color: Solid Red
Nose: Earthy and cherries
Palate: Very sweet for some reason, and a little thin for my liking, initially there was something in the front of my mouth that was off putting (was an 86). As the night progressed that front of the palate feeling went away and came through with cherries and cassis.
Opinion: As I found out this needed more time open
— 10 years ago

India OkohSean Ballington
with India and Sean
LM, David and 1 other liked this

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Bell peppers up front, not as full bodied as others. Very nice. — 11 years ago

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2012

Pleasantly surprised how good this was. Dark with more than a hint of sweet fruit up front but little to no mouthfeel and nothing on the end. — 11 years ago

Kim and Dave liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Very full body. Great taste very can drinker will love it. Flavor on front of moth and tip of tongue. Ready to drink — 12 years ago

Kongsgaard

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012

Although this one did tend to have a citrus rich body, it is definitely a malo mouthfeel and more of a buttery chard. This wine was still quite delicious, and it's not really even my style. I was getting some lemongrass on the front, with a peach and mango note in the middle. The finish is more on the buttery side for my taste, but still went lovely with cheese and meat. Probably would have gone very well with Italian spiced nuts or with an herbal chicken dish. I believe this wine probably would have been more comprehensive if served with food. I think this one definitely has the longevity to age, but I'd put more stock in the Judge chard to do that most effectively. — 8 years ago

Eric, Shay and 7 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 8 years ago

Bodegas Numanthia

Numanthia Toro Tempranillo

Deep red color. Dry up front with a light sweetness. Had plum notes. — 8 years ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1971

1st vintage if this wine, so a real treat to try. A little shrill and sharp at the front. Lovely fruit. Still some fresh notes but in a good place age-wise. Doesn't hang together as well as the wines beside it. — 8 years ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Ara, Ira and 4 others liked this

Josh Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon

It's pretty solid and certainly a big juicy flavor up front. For the price it's excellent but the only downside is the fact that it's gets just a little chalky at the end. I'm nitpicking... — 9 years ago

Michael Spall

Michael Spall

Excellent value - drinks like a $20 + Cab

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Double trouble. Short decant, tight and reluctant first 30 minutes with not much depth, then opened beautifully and put on weight and complexity. A front load of cassis, then bruised plum and warm wet earth. Suggest 3 hour decant to let it strut. — 9 years ago

Sammie Vega
with Sammie
Bill, Sammie and 19 others liked this
Matt Trader

Matt Trader Influencer Badge

I may be taking home a 2010 vintage of the Leoville Barton soon! 100 pt rating too.
Bill Bender

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Lay it down for a while @Matt Trader
Matt Trader

Matt Trader Influencer Badge

That's the plan!

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Big dark fruit up front, mixed berries and cherry notes, with a smooth silky finish. Decanted for two hours. — 10 years ago

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1988

Can't front on La Chapelle, especially from Mag. — 10 years ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Big flavor up front with a dry finish. Another good one with steak. — 11 years ago

The Prisoner and "Odedi" liked this

Domaine Ramonet

Les Ruchottes Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 1987

These supposedly off years by old great producers are simply gems... Extreme front to back balance, sun drenched hay, touch of dry peach, apricot pits, crushed pebbles, shells, bits of honeysuckle, and a soft acid backbone that lingers and touches your spine. Better than most grand cru's I have had in famous vintages. Speaks more to development than popular knowledge/science which is never meets great expectations in wine. Try it to love and live it ! — 12 years ago

George liked this
George Chen

George Chen Influencer Badge

In the empty glass...sweet tropical pineapple turns to matchsticks...crazy!

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

Somm David T
9.4

I have to say this is my favorite Chateau to stand in front of and gaze. On the nose, spice, wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, mint, tobacco leaf and dark fresh & dry flowers. It's drinking nicely with silty medium-medium + tannins & full bodied. Ruby, ripe wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, crushed dry minerals, mint, tobacco leaf and violets, dark fresh & dry flowers. The acidity is round and mouthwatering. The long finish has great elegance, beauty, length, tension & balance. It's just starting to hit it's stride and has plenty of life ahead of it. Another 15-20 years. Who said 04 was a difficult vintage? This will continue to improve and will stun with another 10 years in bottle. Photos of the the exterior Chateau front & side, tasting room and Christian Seely Managing Director. Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Pichon Lalande were originally part of the same estate. Pichon Baron got it's name when Therese, daughter of the founder, received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament. Chateau Pichon Baron changed because of the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville. He took over managing Pichon Baron when he was only 19 years old! When the Baron passed away at 90 in 1850, he divided his Pauillac estate. The sons were awarded what became Chateau Pichon Baron and the daughters were given what later became Chateau Pichon Lalande. Pichon Baron went through three rough decades in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Part of the issues were, lack of investment and they machine harvested. The first really great vintages for them were 89 & 90 after Jean Rene Matignon, Jean-Michel Cazes join them and AXA Insurance Company purchased them adding capital. The 73 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Baron are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. However, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot are reserved exclusively for the second wine. The terroir is mostly deep gravel, sand clay soils. Pichon Baron uses 80% new French oak and rests in barrel 18 months. @ FogoDeChao

— 8 years ago

Severn, Sofia and 34 others liked this
Kimberly Anderson

Kimberly Anderson

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@TheSkip I've also make 11 market trips to Bordeaux.
David From The 504

David From The 504

Will read this on my next flight

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2006

Geoff Troup
9.4

Such beauty and elegance. I'm sure some of it is the age, but an AOC known for power emitting such elegance...Wow. Anyhow, jammy raspberries and a whole garden of vegetables on the nose. Palate is quite refined with white pepper, rock and all the trademark CDP flavors. Im never a huge fan of that fruit in the front, but the mid and back arr gorgeous. What's truly remarkable is the balance...The ability to isolate any single flavor to ruminate on, how each nuance to perfectly morphs into the next. Still some pronounced tannin in this guy! — 8 years ago

kasimir liked this

Flora Springs

Trilogy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Greg Ballington
9.3

Super deep and dark ruby red with an almost black core. Dark baking spices in the front of the nose followed by dark fruits, especially dark dark cherries. With some air there were some purple floral notes and more vanilla. Moderate tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Initially a little tight so we gave it a splash decant. Around an hour or so in, tons of cinnamon and other dark spices. Strong undertone of puréed dark berries and light herbs too. Long body but this needs a little more bottle age. Cannot wait to try it again at the release party next month. Drink till 2028. — 9 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Jeff, Kim and 13 others liked this
Greg Ballington

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@Shay Aldriedge Completely agree, the 14 isn't as good as the 13 which we thought had more complexity and roundness, the texture is crazy good on the 13. But the 14 definitely has potential to be another solid vintage
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

So @Shay Aldriedge @Greg Ballington, so you guys know, my very first visit to Napa, my first stop was FS tasting room. I was a lost, overwhelmed limey, and they made me feel at home - I'll never forget it. If they are back in the saddle, I'm onboard...
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Ron R : Give the '13 Trilogy a try. If you don't seem impressed, then we can chalk it up as a loss, but I think it's worth your time. If you have a hard time finding a bottle, let me know.

Kim Crawford

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Lychee, Papaya, and pie on the front end!! — 10 years ago

Arianna Occhipinti

SP68 Terre Siciliane Nero d'Avola Frappato 2013

Pepper notes up front. Fruit is subdued. — 10 years ago

Brigid Mcateer
with Brigid

Hope Family Wines

Liberty School Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Lighter color. Mild nose and gentle front of the mouth experience. Blackberries. Cherry. Plum. Then down with a warm, port-ish finale. — 10 years ago

Erin Mahollitz
with Erin

Sparkman Cellars

This Old Porch Rosé Blend 2013

2013 Sparkman This Old Porch Rose — 11 years ago

Bogle Family Vineyards

Essential Old Vine California Zinfandel Blend 2011

Cherry and blackberry hints up front, soft tannins in the finish — 12 years ago

Cantina Zaccagnini

Il Vino Dal Tralcetto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009

Very nice! Still young but drinking very well already. Sweet, fruity, and floral on the front of the tongue, but rich and complex at the finish. Notes of earth and spice, and a hint of tannin. Will drink well later too. Great! — 13 years ago

Jim liked this