Ground Effect

The Butterfly Effect

Central Victoria Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

The first 10/10 cab I’ve ever drank. Very smooth but with all the depth of flavor expected from a cab. — 5 years ago

Long Shadows Vintners

Feather Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Made by superstar winemaker, Randy Dunn, of Dunn Vineyards, the 2017 ‘Feather’ by Long Shadows is a masterful effort from this exciting warmer vintage in Washington. Once on the nose there is a lovely round core of toasty oak that wraps around the rich dark fruits, sagebrush and chocolate fudge aromatics that all meld in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, revealing a round and generous mouthfeel. The seamless effect created mid-palate is utterly fantastic. Black currants and blackberry cordial dance with shades of Black Forest Cake and espresso bean on this highly complex palate. This finishes long with dark fruits and a beam of minerality. While enticing to savor now, the 2017 ‘Feather’ will have a long life ahead of it. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to afford a two hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2021-2040- 95 — 6 years ago

Dr., Shay and 33 others liked this
Martin Sher

Martin Sher

(seeking)
Dr. Owen Bargreen

Dr. Owen Bargreen Influencer Badge

@Eric Bass It’s a truly incredible new WA wine 🍷
Dr. Owen Bargreen

Dr. Owen Bargreen Influencer Badge

@Martin Sher They’ve got such a brilliant lineup!

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs

In first on QF1. Lots of citrus flavour which works well in the cabin of an aircraft. Would like to try again at ground level to check the real taste. Very enjoyable. Would certainly consider buying but might wait for a better vintage. — 7 years ago

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Big potent nose with notes of black cherries, dark chocolate, leather, cedarwood, licorice and forrest ground. Big body with concentrated fruit, well balanced tannins, fresh acidity and long aromatic finnish - Always a great pleasure👍 — 9 years ago

Vietti

Tre Vigne Barbera d'Asti 2014

After opening world class wine all evening this wine held it ground and turned heads! — 9 years ago

Château Giscours

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Blackberry, grilled meat, freshly ground coffee aroma. Black fruit and dark chocolate with a hint of Orange peel carry through onto the silky mouth feel. Drink this while your 2010s sleep. — 9 years ago

Shay, Mike and 5 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Good stuff.

Duckhorn Vineyards

Napa Valley Merlot

v18. Very nice. Soft white pepper and smashed black cherry nose. Rich black cherry and blackberry fruit. Smooth, tight, cola, mocha , soft leather and ground pepper finish. Lot of words , but well balanced! — 5 years ago

Bodegas Borsao

Tres Picos Campo de Borja Garnacha 2017

Licorice, blackberry, strawberry jam, caramel candy... This is very rich. The palate is wonderful with a very strong acid drive, a great width with a nice thickness on the sides which can be broken down in matter and a radiant black fruit. Some tannins that stick up on the sides in the rear and a slight drying effect and a very long finish with again a typical licorice touch, blackberries and a nice tangyness which makes you crave for another glass. Wow this is great and it puts a lot of fancy Châteauneuf du pape to shame! — 6 years ago

Byron, Bob and 21 others liked this

Tenuta Il Poggione

Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 1999

We recently pulled some cases out of storage, which haven't seen the light of day for nearly 15 years, so I'll have some fun posts in the next several months.

Nose has dusty blackberry, tanned leather, ripe plum, black tea, dark chocolate chips, spring violets, grape Jolly Rancher candy; a total beast on the nose still after all these years!

Palate has ripe blackberry, over-ripe plum, dried orange peel, cocoa powder, ground coffee, dried cherry; massive tannins with a tremendously long finish.

Wow, we feel like this bottle is only 5-6 years old, so fresh in the glass at about 21 years past vintage. This needs at least another 10+ years of relaxing. We have a bunch of Brunello, and I'm constantly confirming they mostly need ~30 years. The Vince Wilfork of wines tonight, immovable force. Decanted 4 hours, paired with long braised lamb shanks over Parmesan polenta, perfect pairing, should try this again in 2030...

24 Hour Update: Nose is a mix of black fruits and a light olive tapenade. Palate is a gentle giant, tannins mostly resolved, ripe plum, shaved dark chocolate and dried orange peel. Just a beautiful wine tonight, it likely won't see tomorrow.
— 6 years ago

P, Yen and 47 others liked this
Ryan Vento

Ryan Vento

@Severn Goodwin The wine and the fact that you had it stashed away for so long. Commitment.
Jason Brater

Jason Brater

As a native Bostonian, I appreciated the Wilfork reference as much as the wine review!
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

That’s not encouraging... I have 2010 in the cellar... still 20 y to go 😌

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

Dan FitzgeraldShay AKeith Fisher
with Dan, Shay and 1 other
Shay, Eric and 35 others liked this
Norman

Norman Premium Badge

Two great wines. Not a fan of pear but generally love Kongs
Benjamin Keator

Benjamin Keator

Who opened this?
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Benjamin Keator : I think it was Al

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.
9.4

Sam Plunkett

The Butterfly Effect Shiraz

Now my go to wine of choice. Absolutely love it! — 9 years ago

Higher Ground

Monterey County Pinot Noir 2014

Great, smooth but interesting Pinot. Terrific price. — 10 years ago

Patti and Lizette liked this
Patti Pontrelli

Patti Pontrelli

Fruit forward, loved it.

Château de Cary Potet

Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise Pinot Noir 2018

Second try with this one in 2 weeks but now all my senses are back in full effect. Typical youthfull, playful nose with cherry and hay. The palate is well designed with sheer acid, a blooming cherry note all along, some nice width, a tannic wall in mid palate which kicks things up a notch, leaving a slighlty drying effect which lasts until the very end. The finish is fruity. A very lovely, yet simple wine. It's rare these days to find burgundy pinot for that price (equivalent to less than 10 euro in local currency) and that lovely. — 6 years ago

Peter, Neil and 23 others liked this

Solid Ground

California Pinot Noir 2017

Bright Red Cherry front to clove and finishes with light smokers oak. Soft tannins & youthful acidity that worked well with fatty meat. We enjoyed it with Chuck Burger topped with Provolone, Avocado, Tomato, Mayo on Egg Bun and side of Root Veggie fries🍷 — 6 years ago

The Butterfly Effect

Reserve Victoria Red Blend 2017

Naked - pretty fine for a blend — 6 years ago

Château La Croix St. Georges

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

A review of 9️⃣’s for fun 😁

The 2009 was made 9 years ago @ £39 & 19 years after the 1990 @ €90 😁 so I thought it would be fun to compare how my favourite Pomerol has evolved 😁

💵 Oh & Petrus next door to this Chateau is 90 times more expensive 🤣

🥊 So 90 vs 09

🏵 90 - 97-98 points
🏵 09 - 94-95 points

🍷 90 - Garnet opaque ruby w/ bricking
🍷 09 - Opaque ruby

⏩ scroll for colour pics on Instagram ⏩

👃 90 - Bordeaux nasal sex of soggy earth, sooty underground 🚇, char-smoked oak, old leather, damp musty cellar, mushroom, mirabelle plums, damson compote, obliterated blackcurrant, herbs, toasted fig, bitter mocha & liquorice
👃 09 - Dark jammy plum & blackcurrant through smokey oak, choc mocha, flint, pencil lead, soggy earthy leaves & wet rock minerals

👄 90 - Med body of creamy earthy smooth silk dark plum & berry bathed in ground mocha & liquorice
👄 09 - Med+ creamy smooth ripe dark plum & blackcurrant body w/ a mocha infusion & mineral tone

🎯 90 - Long mocha liquorice dark fruits mouth filling linger w/ a big happy smile 😃
🎯 09 - Long smooth ripe dark fruit, minerals & rich mocha linger - oh & still big happy smile 😀

⏰ 09 I can’t wait to revisit you in 19 years 😘

👏 @josephjanoueix @jeanphilippejanoueix 😍
— 8 years ago

Chris, Peter and 26 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Nice idea, but I think 2009 will become awesome too 🤨😉

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 — 9 years ago

Joshua liked this

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. — 10 years ago

Les, Ted and 13 others liked this