Here And Now

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

Perfect 10 event. Balanced and elegant cabernet that is a bit fruitier than most. 2010 vintage. Would be delicious with food. Drinkable now but can age longer. Has a bit of new European quality. — 9 years ago

Azienda Agricola Fontodi

Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale Sangiovese 2001

Delicious. So savory and umami right now. Amarone like nose and palate. Dried cherry, fig, plum. Wet leather, sweet spices, porcini and maitake mushroom, dried flowers, fennel seed, licorice root, tar. Super expressive and layered. Concentrated mid-palate. Elegant tannins with a rustic charm to them. Long finish. One of the best Sangiovese I've ever had. Out of magnum — 10 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Dark cherry, cassis. Powerful tannins. Will keep for ages, but delicious even now! — 11 years ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2007

Always a favorite but a little young. Prefer the '04s right now. — 12 years ago

Anthony liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1970

Mike R
9.7

Really really good - absolutely ready to drink now — 9 years ago

S LavR BowersMartin G Rivard
with S, R and 5 others
Mike, Martin and 43 others liked this
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

I'm so happy that we decided to pair this up against the 74 & 85. It really shows it's evolution.
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

My wife and I went to Heitz on our honeymoon in 1969. We drove from Tucson and slept in the 1963 Dodge Dart. We had a wonderful time. I’ve had Heitz cab many times in the 1970’s. It was pricey , over $2 dollars!

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1983

In a good place right now — 11 years ago

Chris liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2002

Very elegant and balanced, now mature with spice ripe strawberry and red fruits, good acidity and long finish. Very enjoyable — 11 years ago

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2007

Can't say enough about a wine this serious at this price point. Absolutely stunning, elegant, and even (in a chinon way) powerful. Floral aromatic dominate - lavender and a bit of rose. Graphite, dusty chalk, red pepper, some raspberry. Fresh yet not primary. Hints of savory notes as well. Incredible spine of minerality runs through the palate. Great acidity and structure. Coiler and energetic. Finishes long and bright with refreshing pyrazines for days. In an incredible place now, so no fault in drinking but has a long, long life ahead. One of the best values in the wine world. Just exceptional — 10 years ago

Gil 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! 🍷

G.D. Vajra

Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2004

This wine is drinking beautifully now. Spice, cherries, and black licorice on the nose. Lovely integration on the palate with balanced acidity, very fine tannins, and a silky texture. Red cherries and dry stone minerality round this out. Nicely long finish too. — 12 years ago