Glacial Till
Raats
Stellenbosch Cabernet Franc 2013
Deep ruby red with garnet edges. Quite a bit of greenery on the nose with some earthiness as well as a touch of cherries and perfume. Medium plus tannins (7/10) and medium plus body. Very young overall with notes of dark berries, chalk, earthiness and spices. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2028. — 7 years ago
Fossil & Till
Petillant Naturel Seneca Lake Riesling 2015
23 November 2017. Vine Wine, Brooklyn, NY. — 7 years ago
Campesino
Sangiacomo Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah 2013
Deep purplish ruby red. Lovely 'Côte Rôtie' styled nose with black olives, smoke, dark floral notes and black currants. More floral notes as it breathes. Well rounded and spicy on the palate with medium tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Layered palate with notes of black olives, bacon fat, pepper, dark spices and minerality. Long and lingering finish with balanced acidity. Drink till 2024. — 8 years ago
Retro Cellars
Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2012
Always love these Petite Sirahs from Mike Dunn, and this 2012 seems to be especially special. Dark purplish red. Overall lots of dark characteristics on the nose with tight bramble berries, black currants, spices, dried violets, a little cinnamon and even coriander. Even got a little gamey and savory with an hour or two in the glass. Heavy tannins (7/10) but smooth and full bodied. Kept beefing up as it sat open, currants on the attack, iron, smokey and a bit meaty. Larger in the mid-palate with some dark crushed rocks. Dark fruits coming through at the end after day one. Insanely dry and long with a nice little spice kick in the finish. Will drink well for the next decade or so. Drink till 2027. — 8 years ago
Mvemveraats
De Compostella Cabernet Franc Blend 2011
Fourth of the blind wines.
Deep ruby red. Nose started off quite tight, needs more than an hour and a half decant. Earthy nose with menthol notes, darker spices, cinnamon, a touch of dirty cellar, a little green, chalky and light dark berries. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Great structure with notes of red berries, oak, earth, herbaceous, minerality, and a touch vegetal. Very dry and long finish. Drink till 2024. (91+) — 8 years ago
Round Pond Estate
Estate Proprietary Left Bank Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
Second wine on the second night of the cruise at Chops Grille. Deep and dark purplish ruby red. Rich nose with cinnamon, cassis, blackberries, anise and spices. Medium plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Well rounded with great structure and dark gravel, black raspberries, blackberries, and tons of cinnamon. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2027. (93+) — 7 years ago
Kanonkop Estate
Paul Sauer Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005
Seventh red wine at our annual DMV South African wine tasting. Medium ruby red in appearance. Chalky notes coming straight out of the glass with some more layers of black cherries, twigs and light spices. Great acidity and balanced tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Layers of red and black fruits on the palate, some cinnamon, vanilla and some chalky and earthy notes. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2022. — 7 years ago
Fattoria Le Pupille (Elisabetta Geppetti)
Morellino di Scansano 2016
Medium to deep ruby red. Savory and cherries on the nose. A bit of gravel too. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and balanced acidity. Medium to medium plus body. Needs a little time to open up. Cherries and lots of earthiness. Medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2024. — 7 years ago
Schrader Cellars
LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Deep purplish ruby red. A little mute on the nose to start with some savory notes, layers of dark black fruits, cinnamon and some minerality. Balanced acidity with heavy tannins (7.5/10). Full bodied with tons of dark and red fruit with some sweet spices too. Long and lingering finish. Needs a long decant. Drink till 2033. — 7 years ago
Flora Springs
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Deep ruby red, nice and young. Rounded nose dark spices, dark berries, cocoa and a touch of anise. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium plus bodied. Layers of sweet spices, crushed gravel, dark bitter cocoa, plums and dark raspberries. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2024. — 8 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Final night of the cruise.....night ten coming to a close so we decided to go with another Special Selection.
Deep and dark purplish ruby red, completely coats the glass. Plump and rich aromas on the nose with blueberries, vanilla, cinnamon, blackberries and even some purple flowers. Rounded and integrated heavy tannins (7/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Love the blue and black fruits on the palate of this wine. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032. — 8 years ago
Pahlmeyer
Napa Valley Merlot 2010
A bit hazy, cloudy and dark ruby red. Thick baking cocoa on the nose with a touch porty, tight black cherries, and raspberries. Strong acidity with medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Seemed a bit disjointed even with a 2 hour decant. Layered palate with plums, cedar, a bit of animal notes like leather, leaves, a touch earthy and dark cherries too. Long finish. Might be going through a dumb phase and need some time. Drink till 2023. — 8 years ago
Lazy Susan Ranch
Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Mix of garnet and ruby red. Mature nose with truffles, plums, cocoa, spices and cassis. Integrated tannins (6/10) and medium plus body. Smooth and integrated palate with cocoa, raspberries, black fruit, herbal and a little bit of minerality. Medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2020. — 7 years ago
De Toren
Fusion V Stellenbosch Red Blend 2014
Ninth red wine at our annual DMV South African wine tasting. Medium to deep ruby red. Muted nose to start with notes of iron, cassis, dark sweet spices, and cocoa. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Almost caramel like on the palate with vanilla and dark berries. Nice level of richness and very long finish. Drink till 2028. — 7 years ago
Continuum
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014
First blind red for my father’s 53rd birthday. We tried four 2014s, two were Cabernet Sauvignons and two were Bordeaux Blends.
Deep purplish ruby red. Restrained yet rich nose, dark berries, dark spices and gravel. Heavy tannins (7/10), full bodied and great structure. Rich palate with sweet spices, anise, dark cocoa, black fruits and perfume too. Long and a touch bitter in the finish. Drink till 2037. (95+) — 7 years ago
Ghost Cellars
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Super dark ruby red. A bit of complexity on the nose with cinnamon, cedar, earth, herbs, a bit toasty and touch of red berries. Rounded and medium tannins (6/10). Medium bodied with notes of spices, dust, strawberries and cherries. Medium plus finish and well balanced. Drink till 2023.
Made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Merlot. Aged for 20 months in 40% new French oak, and then an additional 6 months in the bottle prior to release. Only 308 cases produced.|Sample provided by Winery, retail price is $85.00. — 8 years ago
Rockwell Brown
Red Mountain Red Blend 2009
Last of the four year vertical we are trying out for #WAWineMonth. We had the 05, 07, 08 and 09.
Just through the appearance you can tell this is the youngest of the lot with a deep ruby red core. Fruitiest too on the nose with dark red berries and followed up with some graphite, light damp leaves, cocoa and cinnamon. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. A touch more oomph than the 2008. Layered palate with dark cherries, dark cocoa and cassis. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2023.
This particular bottling is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (90+) — 8 years ago
Witchery Wine
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Fourth of the blind tasting for Father's Day weekend.
Deep and dark purplish ruby red. Dark fruits with a touch of acetone or whiskey on the nose. Some cigars and dark cocoa as well. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium bodied. A touch lighter than expected. Extracted dark fruits and bitter dark cocoa on the palate. A little unbalanced with a medium plus finish. This is still a baby and needs time to settle. Drink till 2029. — 8 years ago
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Second stop in Sonoma with Andrew Berge of Spell Estate, La Pitchoune and Tiny House to name a few. First single vineyard Pinot Noir is the Terra de Promissio from the Petaluma Gap of the Sonoma Coast AVA. It is aged in 50% new French oak and only 49 cases produced.
Lush medium ruby red with a light purplish hue. Quite floral on the nose with some white pepper and strawberries. Medium acidity (6.5/10) with good tannins and a medium plus body. A bit of tobacco on the palate with some dark raspberries and gravel. Dry and medium plus finish. Drink till 2026. $$ — 7 years ago