Groove
Gargiulo Vineyards
G Major 7 Study 575 OVX Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011
L'Aventure
Estate Cuvée Paso Robles Red Blend 2007
The 07 Estate Cuvée is a blend of; 49% Syrah, 37% Cabernet and 14% Petit Verdot.
The nose reveals, bright, ripe, ruby fruits of; mulberries, boysenberries, olallieberries, black plum, plum, blackberries and black cherries. Some black pepper, melted dark chocolate, mocha powder, vanilla, dark, rich soil, limestone minerals, dry sage, bay leaf, understated dark spice, dry crushed rocks, burnt ambers, incense, underbrush, soft leather & woody notes with loads of fresh, fragrant violets and lavender.
The body is; full, ruby, lush and voluptuous. The tannins are powdery dry with some meaty, stickiness. The structure and tension are still quite big. The length and balance are in the first phase of their good groove. It has another 6-8 years of very good drinking going forward. Dark currants-cassis, bright, ripe, ruby, jammy fruits of; mulberries, boysenberries, olallieberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, creamy black raspberries and black cherries. Warm blueberry pie, more black pepper on the palate then the nose, melted dark chocolate, mocha powder, vanilla, some clove, cinnamon stick, black licorice, sweet tarriness, dark, rich soil, moist clay, limestone minerals, dry sage, bay leaf, dark spice with some uplifting palate heat, dry crushed rocks, burnt ambers, incense, savory meats, underbrush, suede style leather, cedar with loads of fresh, fragrant violets and lavender. The acidity is round and beautiful. The long, rich, ruby, well balanced, voluptuous, nicely polished finish is delicious and persists on and on.
This is a wine where Southern Rhône meets Bordeaux.
Photos of; L’Aventure, Stephan Asseo-Owner and Winemaker, their beautiful cave and rolling hillside vineyard. — 6 years ago
Lail Vineyards
Blueprint Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Just going to ease back into the groove - just a bottle of white then tomorrow a bottle of red
Taken three plus weeks to get rid of bronchitis and starting to exercise again
a nice wine to ease into things - crisp tart great citrus - Asian pear, grapefruit green apples 🍏 @David L you know it well brother - all smiles — 7 years ago
Château Ausone
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1970
Great color balanced in the groove 30 min in decanter — 8 years ago
Azienda Agricola Bera
Alladio Langhe DOC Nebbiolo 2012
Good going neb this. Started out feeling pretty rustic but settled into its groove, although I preferred it when freshly opened. Dried red fruits floating around with a nip of truffle, roses, salt, burnt orange rind, some earl grey tea in the mix too and old spice. Brisk in its acid and the tannin profile was a game of two halves with air providing some ease. Length pretty pleasing. — 8 years ago
Tongue in Groove
Tongue in Groove Waipara Valley Pinot Noir
Macerated fun. More like an orange wine than a traditional Pinot — 9 years ago
Tranche Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
2011 gsm just getting its groove on. Delish! — 9 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
The Joseph Phelps party. The 09 Backus from magnum.
Nose reveals, bright dark & mid red, candied/floral fruits of; blackberries, loads of dark cherries & strawberries, black plum, dry cranberries and hints of blue fruit on the high nose. Black licorice, dark fruit roll ups, bright red cola, dry crushed limestone minerals, Provence herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, light; fresh tobacco, leather volcanic minerals, alluvial soils with bright dark, red and blue florals.
The body is full with soft, sweet, round tannins. The tension, structure, length and balance are just hitting their groove. Bright dark & mid red, candied/floral fruits of; blackberries, loads of dark cherries & strawberries, black plum, dry cranberries, hints of blue fruit on the high nose. Black licorice, dark fruit roll ups, bright red cola, dry crushed limestone minerals, Provence herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, light; fresh tobacco, leather, cedar, volcanic minerals & alluvial soils. Bright dark, red, blue florals with violets and lavender. The acidity is round and nicely executed. The long finish is ripe, ruby, well balanced with a sort sham rag texture on the long set. — 6 years ago
Château L'Evangile
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is another property owned by the Rothschild Family.
The nose reveals; dark, deep currants. Ruby, ripe, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, blueberries, baked strawberries and black raspberries. Dark chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, dark rich soils, steeped black tea, some black licorice, tree sap, eucalyptus notes, leather, soft tobacco, saddle/wood with ruby, fresh and withering dark, red flowers with soft violets.
The body is full. The mouthfeel gorgeous. The tannins firm, powdery, tarry & sticky. currants. Ruby, ripe, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, blueberries, baked strawberries and black raspberries. Dark chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, dark rich soils, steeped black tea, some black licorice, tree sap, eucalyptus notes, leather, soft tobacco, saddle/wood with ruby, fresh and withering dark, red flowers with soft violets. The structure, tension, length and balance are beginning to find its groove. The acidity is nice round and beautiful. The long finish is, sexy on the palate, ruby gorgeous, well balanced, polish and beautiful. It lingers nicely for minutes.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco. — 6 years ago
Domaine Vincent Paris
Granit 30 Cornas Syrah 2012
Hitting its peak. Was more flashy a couple of years ago, finding a lovely, soulful groove now. — 6 years ago
Stanton Vineyards
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
The 14 has not found its groove yet - 13 was great — 7 years ago
Mailly
Brut Réserve Grand Cru Champagne Blend
Tongue in Groove
Cabal Vineyard North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2014
This was ridiculously good. Had it with our Chinese New Year dinner of chicken, duck, seafood, etc and it went well with everything. Full bodied, well integrated, just really rich and wonderful. Might be the best NZ wine I've ever had. — 8 years ago
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Hands of Time Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013
An Ethos Projects dinner at Groove Park - solid cab to compliment good friends — 9 years ago
The Vineyardist
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
I coravined a taste of this last night. As I was sipping it, I was thinking that if you didn’t have a trained, sharp palate, many would call this Napa or Mendoza Malbec. Largely because of its bountiful milk chocolate/Mocha qualities with bright blue-purple florals.
The nose is beautiful, deep, dark, ripe, currants/cassis, dark cherries, blackberries, blue & purple fruit mix, pomegranate with baked, strawberries on the glass edges. Sweet berry cola to light fruit liqueur, vanilla, alluvial soils, clay, dry crushed rocks, notes of root beer, malted milk balls, light caramel, mocha, milk chocolate, soft dry herbs, black licorice to the core of anise, underbrush, slightly used leather, dry tobacco, some dark spice, with fresh, bright dark & red florals.
The body is full and lush. Mouthfeel gorgeous. The tannins are round but, still have some tarry teethiness. The structure, tension are still sizable. The length and balance have hit a nice groove. Still 10-15 years of good drink ahead. Deep, dark, ripe, currants/cassis, dark cherries, blackberries, blue & purple fruit mix, pomegranate with baked, strawberries on the glass edges. Sweet berry cola to cherry kirsch fruit liqueur, vanilla, black licorice to anise, alluvial soils, clay, dark, rich, turned earth, dry crushed rocks, graphite, dry tobacco, underbrush, notes of root beer, malted milk balls, light caramel, mocha, milk chocolate, soft dry herbs, black licorice to the core of anise, underbrush, slightly used leather, dry tobacco, dark spice with rising palate heat, with fresh, bright dark, red florals with violets. The acidity is near perfect. The long, rich, lush, ripe well balanced finish persists endlessly.
Stoled this at the Benchmark Bin Sale.
Photos of, The Vineyardist Estate. — 6 years ago
Vilmart & Cie
Cœur de Cuvée Rilly-la-Montagne 1er Cru Brut Champagne Blend 2010
All shock and awe upon initial pop but eventually settles into a lovely groove of chalk, citrus, fresh green apple, biscuit dough. Super fine and effortlessly powerful and balanced. Another five years would be of substantial benefit. Give it some breathing room if you can’t hold off. — 6 years ago
Ankida Ridge
Pinot Noir 2013
After resting in my seller for a few years, I finally opened the 2013 vintage and I am not surprised it is the weakest of the vintage so far. Christine advised letting this rest for a while at release because she said it was too energetic… It seems to have rested nicely and found its way into the same groove as the ‘12. While not as cheerful as the 14, it had classic aromas and acidity for the terroir. Still Burgundian, it was a nice effort to pair with salmon ;) — 7 years ago
Dunn Vineyards
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Randy Dunn makes wine for your retirement and perhaps your grandkids. This 02 is just coming into it's elegance/groove. When you consider it's been in bottle for basically 12 years, it's still a pretty big wine. Tannins are resolving but still packs a palate punch. On the nose, it's a wild berry blend, baking spices and a mix of dry and fresh roses. The fruits start elegant transitioning to juicy & finishing with dry medium tannins. Blackberries, black cherries, black plum, raspberries with very ripe juicy strawberries painting the back palate. The mix of fruit is incredible. Baking spices of caramel & vanilla, just a touch of spice; allspice & light sage, black tea, dessert style dark minerals that finish with dry crushed rocks, graphite & eucalyptus. Followed by; raspberry cola and acidity that is just short of perfect. The finish pierces the mid palate with dark tannins. However, the mixed berry fruit finishes long, juicy to dry & with sheer beautiful elegance. The finish lasts & lasts. It's simply a guilty pleasure. I have two more bottles. I'll have one in 7 more years and the last in 15 years. Love to note the changes! That's the really enjoyable part of cellaring wine. — 8 years ago
Mark Flesher
Having 3 of these I figured it would be a nice time to see how this one is doing. Well, I think that this one has probably reached the very front of the optimal drinking window. Took about 15 minutes of air. The nose was red fruit, mint, red licorice, raspberry and oak. Lossa lossa oak. Entry is a little acidic, minty, flinty, red fruit dominant. Middle of this wine tones down a bit and really finds a nice little groove. Finishes with a lot of astringency (say what?) for a 2011. Structure is what. Quality is what. And I think this one has the power to go another 15 years and be juuuust fine, which I'm not sure I could say about many 2011's from the Napa floor. Drink with 30 minute decant or hold for another 5-10 years. — 5 years ago