Hard Knocks Brewing

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 1989

So smoove. Mellow, aromatic, no hard edges, Brett or greenness to be found. — 9 years ago

Velma, Trixie and 4 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2007

If there were ever an archetypical Syrah, Jamet's Cote-Rotie would be a strong candidate. To me this is a pure expression of a classic Northern Rhone Syrah. It is not a single site, but a blend of terroirs, encompassing over 20 sites mostly from hard rock schist bedrock with little to no topsoil. There is NO Viognier in this wine like one might expect from most Cote-Rotie that might have 1-5% co-fermented.

Importantly, there is also a lot less of the oak character that can dominate and overwhelm many Northern Rhone wines. The oak maturation, while not short at 22 months, only uses 15% new oak with no trace of it on the palate as it is perfectly integrated. Grape bunches are whole cluster fermented and macerated for up to 3 weeks.

The 2007 we have here was drinking superbly for a young wine, showing lively and racy layers of peppercorn spice, roast beef, and warm blackberry and currant fruit from the hot 2007 vintage. While from a warm vintage, not a hair is out of place. Density and purity exude from the nose and hint at what a brilliant future this wine has. Perfect acidity and fleshy ripe tannin provide the backbone structure for father time to peel back the layers of this beauty. I will be chceking back in 5 years at the earliest.
— 10 years ago

LM, Jim and 11 others liked this
LM Segal

LM Segal Influencer Badge

Nice note. 🍷
Tom Kobylarz

Tom Kobylarz Influencer Badge

Thanks! 🍷

Finnriver Farm (Elijah K. Swan)

Black Currant Hard Cider

Just the merest suggestion of funk — 10 years ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1945

Tasted June 20, 2015. A perfect bottle that lived up to its reputation. So hard to find one with guaranteed provenance and not a fake. From the German cellar of Armin Diel, Mahler-Besse. Almost overwhelming chocolate mint, dust, great tannic structure, cherry cola, eucalyptus bark, vanilla, unchanged in the glass for two hours. This wine will likely live another 100 years. — 11 years ago

John HenlineRon SiegelDick Robinson
with John, Ron and 1 other
John, Ron and 10 others liked this

Almar Orchards

J.K.'s Scrumpy Orchard Gate Gold Hard Cider

My favorite cider. A sweeter cider but well balanced and slightly spicy for an overall great flavor profile. Their Saskatoon cider is great if you are looking for something a little sweeter and more unusual. — 11 years ago

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013

I read on Delectable that this Pinot is a Cab lover's Pinot and she was right. I usually pass on Pinot because a good one is so hard for me to find. But this one is really, really good. I've had the Belle Glos from Meiomi, which I've liked as well, but this is equally as good. Great spice along with the fruit. Found this on sale on Cape Cod for $17 - a bargain for wine that drinks like this. — 11 years ago

Crispin

Original Natural Hard Apple Cider

Rebekah Wineburg
8.9

Very apple-y. A bit less than dry but not syrupy sweet. Refreshing and fresh. Nicely done. — 12 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2009

So hard to resist! Def tucking a few away for the 40th Bday...in 2023 — 13 years ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Andrew Lampasone
9.0

2000 nice evolution fresh earth red currants and cassis very complex bouquet cigar box. Very smooth and balanced but still has a good hand of tannins red currant exotic spice sand a long layered finish 50+ most excellent 2006 very forward and fruity bouquet light smoke cigar box and fresh earth smooth and evolved on the palate very smooth drinking nicely right now. Finish 45+ excellent + 2010 first certification year lovely complexity toasty oak spice dark currant and coffee fresh earth very well endowed tannins are a bit hard but lots of everything and a long finish 50+ killer — 13 years ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

Still a lot of life left despite the vintage. After decanting for an hour it is hard to find any flaw with it. — 10 years ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

This was breathing fire 15 minutes after opening. Nose was Christmas Pudding with Hard Sauce. Heavy raisin on the tongue. No other way to describe it. Definitely softened after a couple hours. To be honest, I liked it in the pudding phase best. #DNWC — 10 years ago

Alison Gile
with Alison
Giacomo Giunipero

Giacomo Giunipero

We had the $250. We had to have the pudding

Tin City Cider Co.

Extra Dry Hopped Hard Cider

Nelson Sauvin and cascade hops. Ultra dry. — 10 years ago

Angry Orchard (Boston Beer Company)

Iceman Hard Cider

In the tradition of ice wines and ice ciders. Slightly effervescent and pairs wonderfully with roast turkey. — 11 years ago

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2007

So hard to be me sometimes . Citrus + pear , crisp delight — 11 years ago

Chris liked this

Penfolds

Grange South Australia Shiraz 1999

Near perfection. Depth, fruit, flowers, endless finish. The soul of Australian wines. Hard to beat! — 11 years ago

Neil, Bart and 1 other liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Deep ruby, edging to deep garnet around the rim, very bright. Plush on the nose. The black cassis notes from the Cab and the violets from the Cab Franc are very noticeable. The wine is developing with huge sweet spice, vanilla, smoke and leather. There's a bovril, meaty note here that's very attractive. On the palate, medium acidity, high tannin - grippy, but not coarse; well integrated. Alcohol is 13% and unobtrusive. Good concentration. Fruit is riper on palate than in the mouth, and a distinctive dark chocolate and cinnamon note. The finish is long and attractive. Hard to imagine this wine drinking any better from here. — 11 years ago

Karine liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1997

Andrew Lampasone
9.3

A pretty wine with that textbook herbs and earth that is common in all of these wines a bit of peppery spice. Very smooth and silky sweet fruit with lovely freshness echoing that spice earth notes drinking very nicely but has the structure to age a bit more bit drinking so nicely right now it is hard to keep away from. Finish 45+ excellent+ — 12 years ago

TC and Anthony liked this

Crispin

Artisanal Reserve Honey Crisp Natural Hard Apple Cider

A great hard apple cider that is crisp but not overly sweet. — 13 years ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1996

Okay, I get what all the fuss is about. Hard to believe that something so layered and 'sweet' can have such refreshing acidity. Like being inside a leaking beehive during the lightning storm — 9 years ago

Carla liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Hard to follow the Cheval Blanc but Pichon Lalande never disappoints. Another beauty! — 10 years ago

Janet CarabelliJorge CarabelliIlida Alvarez
with Janet, Jorge and 1 other
Daniel P., Eric and 22 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

No it doesn't. 👍

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1970

Jeremy Shanker
9.4

Came close enough to the '55 Latour that I had to think hard about it for a minute! — 10 years ago

Meena ReisetterEddy Kangnavong
with Meena and Eddy
Kyle, Gary and 4 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

When you want a great wine..... Hard to resist a Caymus — 10 years ago

Quebrada Del Chucao

Sidra Espumante Sparkling Hard Cider 2014

So lovely funky method traditional Chilean sidra for New Years — 11 years ago

Jacques Selosse

Brut Rosé Champagne Blend

Dustin Cano
9.8

Awesome Rose now I understand why Selosse is so hard to get in San Diego! — 11 years ago

Jason Berry
with Jason
Jason, Steve and 5 others liked this
Bill Bender

Bill Bender Influencer Badge Premium Badge

You with the tall skunk?

Coturri Winery

Troy Carter and Tony Coturri Hard Apple Cider

Crisp, tart and funky, light years from a traditional cider. — 11 years ago

Craig liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2001

Needed decanting as it was hard as nails when first opened. Great balance of fruit and acidity with tannins quite pronounced. Beautiful with assorted pastas at Collichio & Sons — 11 years ago

Richard liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

Notes of blueberries and touch of camphor developing savoury flavours. Could easily be Left Bank Bordeaux. Good wine but a hard act to follow after their brilliant 1997 which awakened me to how good Napa Cabernet could be. 18- — 12 years ago

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2008

Saman Hosseini
8.9

Expressive, and silky. Hard to resist drinking today. — 13 years ago

Chris liked this