Ground Control
Kongsgaard
The Judge Napa Valley Chardonnay 2010
Cult chard tasted alongside a 2010 Aubert Lauren Chard....this one lost by a unanimous vote (and it wasn't even a blind vote either). I think everyone WANTED the Judge to win, but there was nothing to Judge here. At least for THIS COMPARISON, in 2018, the Aubert was the winner. BUT, this Judge chard did have more acidity up front than the Aubert, and IMO this wine has more aging potential than the 2010 Lauren Chard, which was pretty much right on the top of the hill tonght. Hard to beat a wine in its prime window, but goes to show you that Aubert makes chards that will compete with this kind of opponent. Lots of acid up front. Stone ground fruit entry, mineral-rich middle. I think that I was getting more pear than anything else here, but there was a hint of youthful butter and some dates. Finishes with actually a really nice fruit/nutty/almost gritty/tannin character for about 60 seconds, which is the one thing I will say that I give advantage to the Judge. Bravo! — 8 years ago
My first “Judge”. Incredibly inviting and a wonderful entry and mid palate. Great weight. Mark mentioned notes of pear which I agree with, alongside a pineapple purée. Impressed at where this was 8 years in and think this probably has a few more years of prime drinking.
Feudo di Santa Croce
Primitivo di Manduria 2010
Wow, what a deal at < $20 / bottle
Wine spectator says #69 of top 100 of 2014.
A burly, brambly red, underscored by tarry smoke and underbrush notes, offering flavors of blackberry coulis, herb-marinated black olive, grilled mushroom and ground spice. This shows muscle that recommends it to short-term cellaring, made accessible by integration and balance. Drink now through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. #69 – 91 points — 8 years ago
Château Angélus
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
Look, most of the crew came to play, as you can see. They brought the Napa cults in spades. We wanted to spoil the U.S. party, so we dropped this into the mix.
It was a change of lanes, but the Angelus was on cruise control. Different genre in relation to the Napa penis extensions, but it held its own. I suppose, as a European, I would characterize this as an intellectual wine. Donald Trump may not appreciate this... 😊 — 9 years ago
Dominus Estate
Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985
Sweet ceder, ground coffee, sweet dried meat coated in a distant vanilla molases sauce, fresh moss / distant moss, med, lean, — 9 years ago
Pierre Gaillard
Malleval Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2009
Some of the best damn Côte Rotie I've had. Love this producer. Aromatic intensity with no shortage of ground pepper and bacon fat aromas. — 10 years ago
Edmunds St. John
Higher Ground Syrah 1997
Dog fell asleep on this beauty! — 11 years ago
Ground Effect
Rock Garden Red Blend
A standard for Grenache/Syrah blend — 11 years ago
Real Companhia Vinicola do Norte de Portugal
Vintage Porto 1847
The year when Kristianstad burned down to the ground. A mind blowing wine. Room filling bouquet, vigorous, balanced and an infinite length. Decanted 2,5 h — 13 years ago
Château Calon-Ségur
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
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. — 7 years ago
Le Vieux Donjon
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend
Lovely nose. Covered dark fruits; not too bright. But taste is fresher fruits. A tad too fruity for me but balanced. Tannins present but under control. Would like to try in 5 years. — 9 years ago
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia
Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
Big nose with concentrated notes of dark cherries, licorice, forrest ground, leather, coffee and bitter chocolate. Very big body, massive but still elegant fruit, complex aromas, potent tannins, well balanced, long aromatic finnish. — 9 years ago
Paul Jaboulet Aîné
La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1975
In English and French.
What a luck !
- A magnum Hermitage La Chapelle 1975 from Paul Jaboulet Aîné.
Bottle opened 24 hours before drink.
The wine is brown and trouble.
A big density, the bouquet offer lot of spicies, cinnamon, dried grappe, old cherry in alcool, date fruit.
The palate :
Full of spicies, deep. Again the cinnamon followed by date fruit and dried grappes, smooth and elegant, a long and fresh finish on the ground aromas like mushroom an old and luxury wood.
Not so old ! A great wine. Loved it.
Around 1200 - 1700 €
- Chance incroyable !
Degustation autour de ce magnum de 1975. Rare. Bouteille ouverte 24h à l'avance.
Sous sa robe usée, trouble et marron, ce vin cache une ceritable fraîcheur.
Son bouquet s'ouvre sur les épices, cannelle, fruits secs, raisins secs, cerise à l’eau de vie et dattes fraîches d'Iran.
Un grand bol de fruits secs, d'épices, de dattes, beaucoup de matière et de tendresse. Un style tout en élégance.
Une longue finale sur des notes tertiaires de mousse, champignon, et de vieux cèdre.
Très beau. J'ai beaucoup aimé.
Attention, le goût de vieux vins est toujours particulier !
Autour de 1200 - 1700 €.
À bientôt.
Florian. — 9 years ago
The Ojai Vineyard
50% Roll Ranch Vineyard 50% Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah 2000
An opaque red/purple, the '00 Ojai Syrah '50% Roll Ranch 50% Bien Nacido' is richly scented with black raspberry, ground pepper and dark cherry notes. Powerful mouth-coating flavors of ripe black fruits with spicy cracked peppercorn accents then flood the palate. The fully-rounded and well-integrated tannins make the lingering finish lip-smackingly delicious. — 10 years ago
Marcel Lapierre
Morgon Gamay 2013
Ground breaking! Thanks to one of my best buddies.. Happy Thanksgiving! — 11 years ago
Arianna Occhipinti
SP68 Bianco Terre Siciliane Albanello Muscat of Alexandria 2012
Peach jolly rancher wrapper with a hint of ground cherry. Creamy, yet bracing. Super nice! — 12 years ago
Bruno Debize
Morgon Gamay 2009
Deliciously pure black fruit 09 flavors wrapped up in granite and ground pepper. A blast to drink.. — 13 years ago
Viña Errazuriz
Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015
The 2015 quality producer reds out of; Puente Alto, Maipo, Pirque and Aconcagua are strong considerations for your cellar or temp & humidity control cabinets. The fruit is sensational and the acidity is beautiful.
The nose is ripe, ruby floral and show slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black raspberries. Some creamy raspberries, black cherry licorice/cola, dark semi-sweet soil, nice baking spices, cedar and fresh red & dark florals.
The body is gorgeous and full. The tannins are rounded, firm and gluey. The fruits are ripe, slightly candied and fresh. blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, some creamy raspberries, strawberries, black cherry licorice/cola, dark, nice herbal notes, semi-sweet dark soil, dry loamy top soils, dry stems, chewy leather, lighter baking spices than the nose, cedar and fresh red & dark florals.
Photos of; their tasting in the old Viña, two vistas from their property and the newer more modern Viña. — 7 years ago
T-Vine Cellars
Hallowed Ground California Red Blend
Chocolate and cherry on the nose, lots of depth both in the glass and in this poetry reading @amysaulderby #wizardtower — 8 years ago
Domaine No Control
Bullette dans ta tête Gamay Blend 2016
A hazy, pale red in color, juicy raspberry notes, lovely acid and a clean dry, finish that make this Pet Nat perfect for a rich meal or just to cheer you up. — 8 years ago
Ground Effect
Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Ripe fruit gives way to baking spices baking spices baking spices. Jammy but not overly so. This is a unique little number, very interesting and agreeable — 8 years ago
Azienda Agricola COS
Pithos Rosso Vittoria Nero d'Avola Frappato
Giusto hits another one outta the park. Sicilian take on new world Pinot Noir, made in clay amphorae buried in the ground, light, pure pomegranate and red berry. Love how the clay and the red earth come through. Very long. Seek this out, decant a bit. — 9 years ago
Higher Ground
Monterey County Pinot Noir 2014
Ground Effect
Never Say Never Syrah
Thanksgiving! — 10 years ago
Hallowed Ground
Proprietary Red Blend 2014
Delicious tart cherries and vanilla finish. Love it, great sipper on its own — 11 years ago
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1999
Chris Haywood
Phenomenal at this price. Parma violets on the nose, lychee and floral aromatics throughout the palate. Some awesome turpene control going on at Hofstätter. Balanced acid and scarily drinkable. — 7 years ago