Gate 20 Two
Château Calon-Ségur
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
Gate 20 Two
Pinot Noir 2012
Inköpt 2013 på vingården/i gubbens vardagsrum. Helt strålande. Kryddigt, parfymerat och elegant. — 8 years ago
Two Hands
Angels' Share McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013
Концентрированный аромат, море черных ягод, джем из тёмной сливы, вишни, очень насыщенно. В развитии сливочные ноты, пломбир, корица. Полное тело, высокий алкоголь умело спрятан. Во вкусе ликёр из черешни, чёрная смородина, много ванили, молочного шоколада. Жирно и сладко; держать. 16,5+/20 — 10 years ago
Tenuta Cerequio
Riserva Speciale Barolo Nebbiolo
Somebody said it was closed in the beginning. Some of us smiled. Two hours later we smiled again but this time surprised when the wine was opened up. Sharp acidity, still some tannins left. Well balanced maturity notes. Drink now or in 20 years ;) — 10 years ago
Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
Family Reserve 20 Years Old 45.2% Wheat
two things: gave this to my brother a few years back. he hadn't opened it and I almost stole it back from him. Also: it's really great, and by no means worth what some people will pay for it. — 12 years ago
Hubert Lamy
En Remilly Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Chardonnay 2010
I bought my first vintage from this producer & terroir beginning with the 2010 vintage and what a vintage to start. I bought four bottles for right around $50 or a little less. They were so amazing, I drank through them in no time at all. For those of you that read my posts, that’s not normally what I do. I like to drink one & age the rest. Since then, I have looked & looked for more. I’d finally given up hopes of finding more until recently I struck gold. I should have bought all nine bottles but a calmer head prevailed. It’s definitely changed since having it fresh. On the nose, the fruits are slightly macerated. Heather honey, beeswax, golden & green apple, pineapple upside down cake, slight orange citrus blend, mango, glazed nuts, soft, delicate, chalky minerals, a touch of jasmine & yellow lilies. The body is much rounder & thicker than when it was young. Waxy. So, beautifully layered across the palate. Much of the palate matches the nose. Heather honey, beeswax, golden & green apple, apricots, peach, pineapple upside down cake, slight orange citrus blend, mango, slight molasses character & glazed nuts with citrus blossoms, yellow lilies & jasmine. The minerals are much more grippy & bold as they cut across and set on the palate. The acidity round & phat. The texture is amazing as is the length, balance & beautiful, rich, long finish that lasts two-minutes plus. So glad I found more of this wine! Hubert Lamy seriously over deliver the terroir & the price point by a country mile. If you are not buying this wine on pre-arrival, you are missing great wine and excellent value. Can’t say enough good things about it. Especially, the 2010. I expect the 15 to hold similar quality. Photos of; Olivier Lamy, Olivier working in this vineyard, barrel room and their Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Vineyard. Producer notes and history...There have been Lamy’ s growing vines in St-Aubin since 1640, today it is run by Olivier Lamy. Olivier is a new breed of Burgundian grower keen to progress. He trained Méo-Camuzet & made a number of vintages before taking over in 1996 from his father Hubert. Hubert Lamy used to sell fruit to négociants, but that stopped in 1997. He grubbed up and sold off peripheral vines, keeping only the best and oldest sites. Currently he is experimenting with different planting densities in a quest to capture even greater expression of terroir. The Domaine produces both reds and whites and now has 16.5 hectares of vineyards, mostly in St-Aubin but also own a few parcels in Chassagne-Montrachet and a tiny plot in the Grand Cru Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. Yields are kept low and recent innovations have been introduced with selection tables in the cuverie to ensure that only the healthiest and ripest grapes are used. His more recent move to reduce the amount of new oak with the introduction of demi-muids 300-600 liter barrels have also helped to improve the wines. Vinification is traditional and the wines are matured with only 20-30% new oak for 12 months before minimal filtration and then bottling. The quality is very high and is often superior to many wines from much more prominent villages that sell at twice the price or more. — 8 years ago
Two Hands
Sexy Beast McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Clendenen Family Vineyards
Bricco Buon Natale Estate Bottled Riserva Barbera 1998
Stunning out straight out of the gate, blueberry sandlewood cherry nose followed by tannin acid and perfectly balanced fruit. Have had a little bit each hour and it keeps in unraveling in the glass, maybe keep for another year or two! $60 at the tasting room WHAT A STEAL! — 8 years ago
Line Shack Winery
San Antonio Valley Petite Sirah 2014
What a beautiful color. Deep, deep purple, almost black, with a Purplish hue and a dark purple rim.
Beautiful on the nose and fruity, with blackberries, figs, raisins, wood, licorice, tobacco, leather, cooked cherries, black plums, currants, vanilla, Cola, spices and light black pepper.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and great legs.
Bone dry on the palate with blackberries, currants, plums, cherries, oak, earth, tobacco, light Cola, licorice, vanilla, spices and peppercorn.
Long finish with full, round tannins and lots of spices at the end.
What a great Petite Syrah this is. Still young, but already enjoyable by itself or with hearty food. Already Nicely balanced and complex, but Needs two hours to open up properly.
This wonderful 90% Petite Sirah and 10% Syrah is from the newly established (10 years old) Appellation of San Antonio Valley. Aged in 20% new French oak barrels for 9 months.
14.8% alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia
Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Rosso Merlot Blend 2012
Freezing my ass off in NYC and back at Cipriani... How many $20 bills have I palmed Fabio over the years, but he parts at least 50 people to give me the best table in the house... This Moses parting this human Red Sea greets me with two kisses and a welcome Mr. Peter... Love this guy... Anyway, Scott & Deb, two of my oldest clients join me... Deb looks exactly the way she looked 20 years ago and Scott looks great... This wine; AIA!!! Velvety, rich, dark, seductive... It's a beautiful woman in a glass... Ornellaia and Sassicaia... Two of my favorites... Still young, but oh so drinkable... — 11 years ago
Morlet Family Vineyards
En Famille Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006
The is from Morlet Families inaugural vintage of 2006. I must say it’s beautiful with a fair amount more of life ahead. The nose reveals dark cassis and a good presence of cinnamon stick. Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, light clove & cinnamon, dark fresh florals and violets. The nose is intoxicating! The body is round, ripe and rich. The tannins nicely resolved. The structure, balance, tension and length are in an excellent spot. Mmmmm! Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, dry cranberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, a touch of bramble, light clove & cinnamon stick, dark rich soils, dry crushed rocks, a little leather, dark fresh florals & violets. The acidity is a waterfall on the palate. The finish is; spectacular elegance, richness, balance and lasts two minutes. One of the best CA Pinot’s we’ve had in a very long time. It deserves an amen & a hallelujah! I paid $65 for this amazing wine 9 years after it’s release (the 2015 released at $115); which brings me back around to a repetitive point of mine. Look for great wines on the secondary market and pay less than producers current release pricing. That is to say, it will aid in keeping you from drinking your new releases too young that are not nearly ready to enjoy! If you are not doing this, you are doing a disservice to your palate and your wine budget. Photos of; their old historical brick building they’ve converted into their winery, interior tasting area, Luc Morlet and their Estate vines. Producer notes and history...Winemaker Luc Morlet is a fifth-generation of a French winemaking family. Growing up in Avenay-Val d’Or, he spent all his spare time working on his family’s estate. His university studies of viticulture and winemaking were put into practice during years of work in vineyards and wineries in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the south of France. Luc left France in 1996 to join his wife Jodie in her native California. Starting in 2006, Luc Morlet began handcrafting Morlet vineyard designated wines and cuvées of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley. As well as; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, a white Bordeaux-style blend and a Late Harvest Sémillon from Sonoma County. Luc is also the brother of Nicolas Morlet the Winemaker of Peter Michael fame. Luc is another producer I respect for his meticulous farming and low intervention winemaking techniques. While his roots are based out of France, he has adapted his skills well to the Napa Valley soils and climate. Morlet styles his wines in a harmonious and refined fashion. Their logo is based upon 19th century French artist Mathurin Moreau’s sculpture entitled, ‘L’Harmonie.’ In August 2010, Luc and and his wife Jodie purchased an estate, just north of the town of St. Helena. Since then, they have converted the historic stone building, built in 1880, into their family winery. The building was originally the Castner Winery that closed during Prohibition. Morlet is located St. Helena Appellation. The estate is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and is the exclusive fruit source for their ‘Morlet Estate’ label. The Morlet’s ‘Mon Chevalier’ vineyard is located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, overlooking the western slopes of Mount St. Helena. The vineyard benefits from their proximity to the mountain. Warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the red Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They recently planted the 20 acre ‘Cœur de Vallée’ vineyard. These Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines are located on the Oakville Bench, If one such exists. I read a quote from a grower who has been growing in Oakville for many years. He said, “the only bench in Oakville is the one in front of the Oakville Grocery Store.” While it may or may not be true, it’s certainly a funny quote. In addition to these family acres, they buy from farmers under long-term contracts in Fort Ross-Seaview, Russian River Valley, Bennett Valley, Dry Creek and Napa Valley. All of the Morlet’s wines are handcrafted using classical Burgundy and Bordeaux winemaking techniques and are matured in 100% French oak barrels. — 8 years ago
Mollydooker Wines
Two Left Feet Shiraz Blend 2007
I paid 20 bucks for this 8.5 years ago. This wine still has fruit, body, complexity, life. Absolutely fantastic. But drink now or soon. Open with pizza. — 9 years ago
Borgo Scopeto (Tenuta Caparzo)
Borgonero Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend 2011
Well balanced Tuscan blend. 60% Sangiovese, 20% Syrah, 20% Cab. Good tannins and alcohol showing black cherry, leather, light spice and oak. Still a bit tight but would benefit from a hour two in a decanter. Not convinced it warrants WE's 94 rating. The 2011 should have another 3-5 years. — 10 years ago
Maison L'Envoyé
Two Messengers Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012
Wow! This has an incredible aroma of a berry bouquet with an extremely smooth finish! 🍷🍷🎉🎊🎉🎊💃👍❗️💖💖 The vineyard says the grapes were picked from Oct 4th-25th, 100% de-stemmed and then fermented as whole berries before shrine in approximately 20% new oak ✅💃💃💃👍 — 11 years ago
Quilceda Creek
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon 1994
1994
Lauren Hutton
Still beautiful, just not as much as a few years ago
Fruit still solid- deep plum, cherry
Smoky and leathery elements emerging as it ages
Big win for the Coravin!
Tapped half of it four months ago and found it lost nothing since
Decant 20 minutes then enjoy over two to three hours — 11 years ago
Stratton Lummis ( Row Eleven Wines )
The Riddler - Lot One Red Blend
One of the very best values I've found. About $20 per bottle. Needs to be open for an hour or two before drinking it to get the real balance of flavors. Awesome every time! You can find it in Wake Forest at Bin 275 at The Factory. — 13 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
On the nose, a touch of barnyard. Sweet & sour dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry stones, rich black turned, soft leather, cedar, underbrush, tobacco, light vanilla & clove, medium spice, limestone, fresh & withering dark red floral bouquet.
The body is just full. The tannins are soft, rounded, chewy & sticky and still have some teeth. The wine elegantly guides smooth over the palate...very little that pushes back. It’s still youthful but not as youthful as my expectation. Sweet & sour dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry stones, rich black turned, soft leather, cedar, underbrush, tobacco, some dry herbal notes, sweet tarry notes, light vanilla & clove, medium spice, powdery limestone, loamy clay & top soil, graphite, dark spice with lifting heat, fresh & withering dark red floral bouquet and haunting violets. The acidity is near perfect. The structure, tension, length are in a very place but, will still improve for another 15+ years. The long, finish is ripe, round, balanced and lasts minutes.
Photos of, the Chateau, Technical Director Vincent Millet, beautiful stainless steel tank room and their new barrel room.
Producer notes & history...historic records show that Calon Segur was in existence as far back as 1147, when it was owned by Monseigneur de Calon. He was an important Bishop in the community. This makes Chateau Calon Segur one of the very oldest properties in Saint Estephe. Eventually, the property came to be owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Segur. Hence where part of the name of the Chateau comes.
After passing through generations, the estate became the property of the famous Marquis de Segur. de Segur is an important figure in Bordeaux history, not only for his ownership of numerous top Bordeaux estates in that day but, he also owned Lafite and Latour. de Segur is credited with uttering the words that spawned the idea behind the heart shaped logo of Calon Segur. The story is that de Segur is quoted as saying: “I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is in Calon.” This famous saying lives on the label of Chateau Calon Segur, where the drawing of a heart is prominently featured on the bottle.
Chateau Calon Segur was one of the original three Bordeaux vineyards in Saint Estephe. In 1825 Chateau Montrose was a forest without a single vine belonging to the massive Calon Segur estate. In fact, Chateau Phelan Segur was also once part of the vast Segur estate. The holdings of the Segur family were so large, they included what would later became Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild!
The more modern era by European standards began in 1894 when its Left Bank vineyards were purchased by Georges Gasqueton and Charles Hanappier. Hanappier was a large negociant at the time. The Gasqueton family managed the estate until 2012. Madame Gasqueton ran the estate until she passed away at the age of 87 in late September, 2011.
In July of 2012, Chateau Calon Segur was sold for 170 million Euros or 215 million US dollars. The buyer was a French Insurance Company, Suravenir Insurance. Jean-Pierre Moueix, the owner of Petrus and the massive negociant company Duclot also took a minority stake in Chateau Calon Segur.
Since taking over Calon Segur, they started renovating the property with the focus on the wine making facilities. They followed a trend to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis. The estate replaced their older vats with new stainless steel tanks that vary in size and number to match the size of the various vineyard parcels.
The new tanks accompany a completely new vat room as well with everything moving completely by gravity. The new tasting room was remodeled as well. The renovations were completed in 2016.
Their cellars also needed work. Immediately after closing, the new owners began an extensive replanting of the Calon Segur vineyard. There were a number of reasons they chose to do this. They needed to increase the level of vine density and add more Cabernet Sauvignon.
The extensive renovation of Chateau Calon Segur cost somewhere north of 20 Million Euros. Other changes, the new owners took full control and brought in Vincent Millet as the Technical Director.
The 55 hectares of Calon Segur are located just north of the small town of St. Estephe and are planted to 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
Chateau Calon Segur is one of the few walled in vineyards in the Left Bank. Calon Segur is also known as being the northern most Classified Growth in Medoc.
The terroir of Calon Segur is a blend of gravel, rocks, clay, sand and limestone soils on the surface with gravel that can be as deep as 5 meters. Underneath, you find marl, clay and limestone.
On average, the vines are 25 years of age. However, they have older vines that range in age from 45-60 years of age.
The vineyard of Chateau Calon Segur remains almost exactly the same as it did at the time of the 1855 Classification.
Since the remodel was completed, fermentation takes place in 70 conical shaped, stainless steel tanks that range in size from 25 hectoliters to 120 hectoliters. Vintages are now aged in 90% to 100% new, French oak barrels for up to 20 months.
Production of Chateau Calon Segur is around 20,000 cases per year. They also make a second wine, which was originally named Marquis de Calon. Now, the second wine is sold under the name of Le Marquis de Calon Segur.
There is also a third wine, which is sold under two names, La Chapelle de Calon, and St. Estephe de Calon Segur, which is produced from vines that mostly come from a specific plot with more limestone. — 8 years ago