I Am George
Jules Taylor
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
The 2018 vintage is their best yet. Excellent crisp NZ SB. Of course I am biased since this is the official white wine of B50. 😎 nice acidity balanced with notes of fruit and flowers. — 6 years ago
Skouras
Saint George Nemea Aghiorghitiko 2015
Had it at a Greek restaurant and loved it. Hunted down several bottles I had a wine shop and brought them home. They did not disappoint. Mild almost like a Merlot great with lamb chops. — 7 years ago
Château Lilian Ladouys
Saint Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
Hedy’s main course was one of her very best. Charred Onion Crusted Beef Bavette, Carrot Puree. Onion Confit, Potato. I forgot to take a picture so I am using an older similar entree from one of her previous dinners.
The 09 vintage is clearly one of the best in my lifetime. It’s so beautiful and elegant even this young. I have six of these plus a 3 liter so it was good to be able to peek into its development. I double decanted it and poured back in the bottle and re-corked it around 3p. Served it around 8:30p.
It had evolved nicely for the steak. It was full bodied, lush, smooth and elegant. Dark currants, mocha, fresh cigar, soft leather, dry clay, round acidity and a beautiful finish. Paired nice with Hedy’s entree.
The 09 Lilian Ladouys was one of the top sleeper wines of the vintage.
Hedy @Plate&Bottle on Facebook. — 7 years ago
A. Rafanelli
Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
What a sublime and elegant wine. I'd be turned off by the waiting list but now that I have my hands on a bottle...holy heck it is just so refined. Not a jam-monster, not too light...it is the Goldilocks of Zin. Blog review coming shortly but know getting on the list is good if you like an aristocratic Zin. If you don't it may not be your jam...literally. But I am INTO this. — 9 years ago
Orin Swift Cellars
Abstract Grenache Blend
Smooth, rich and light at the same time, subtle oak and blackberry coming through. After taste of “am I really here” and “tell me I’m a good singer”. — 5 years ago
Ochota Barrels
i am the owl Syrah 2018
Smooth and elegant. Acidic w mineral and white pepper notes w just a touch of Brett. I imagine this is what Syrah tasted like 100 years ago. 😊🙏🍷 — 6 years ago
Orin Swift
Papillon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Okay my friends. I have finally released my own wine! This rating is for Dr Todd Vineyards cabernet sauvignon from Herron Family Wines. I had to put Papillon in the pic to get this spot. Ive been working on this since 2014!!!!! It is finally ready. Of coarse it is opaque in color. The legs are thick and slow to fall. The bouquet is my favorite blackberry pie fresh out of the oven with a hint of black licorice. The initial palate is exploding with dark fruit: blackberry, black current, dark cherries. The mid palate is exactly what I hoped for, chocolate and spice with a splash of oak! The finish is very long with minimal tannins and moderate dryness. I am very proud if this wine. I want to thank my growers in NAPA. I blended two vines of 100% cabernet , one from Oakville and one from the Silverado trail area near lake Hennessey. We aged it three years in American Oak. I am so proud of my team!!!!! Thank you my Herron Family Wine Crew! This is an awesome cabernet sauvignon. Next is a pinot noir... stay tuned... — 6 years ago
Paloma
Napa Valley Merlot 2013
Pours just as dark and violet-tingled as all of the other Paloma merlots I've had the luck to open. However, this wine from the nose and from the entry has a lot of cherry cola notes going on. Less chocolate than the 2010 had, but the density of this wine is unmistakably present. I am really impressed by the mature quality of this merlot on the front given its youth. Soft front and middle, acidity really starts to peak more on the finish. Wine really softens with some fatty and salty foods. Has 10 years left quite easily. — 7 years ago
Château Rayas
Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2005
2005 vintage extremely tasty. Tastes great and this wine has another 20 years of life. No doubt a superb effort but I am very worried. Just like Bordeaux is no longer claret, rayas is no longer a delicate wine. Rayas was a delicate, subtle, light colored, feminine wine. It has become high alcohol, big color, masculine wine. Very good but I miss the elegance. Has Emanuelle Reynaud listened too much to RP. We don't need another Pegau. Rayas was just fine as it was. — 9 years ago
Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2005
Just can't get enough! I am a Comtes de Champagne fan boy. Back to back '04 and '05 eyes closed. — 10 years ago
Ruinart
Brut Rosé Champagne
Our favorite Spring day is when we get plant the yard. Especially, during Covid-19 lockdown. Never more enjoyable.
Flowers by Sofia. Garden is me.
A great weather day and worthwhile doing a cheers with of one of our favorite N/V Rosé Champagne’s.
With the lockdown, I am running dangerously low on Rosé Champange. I might have to Soda Stream some Rosé wine soon.
All my many, many notes still apply.
Cheers all and Happy Easter if you celebrate it. 🍾🥂🍷 🐣 🐰 — 6 years ago
Produttori del Barbaresco
Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2011
Super beautiful and elegant, feminine and delicate yet great concentration. I am not sad about opening this yet it could age. Let it air a bit like 20 min at least and you start getting that concentration of red fruit with the beauty of Italian acidity. Highly recommended and I am happy I opened this for a good event. — 6 years ago
Spottswoode
Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Youthful, yet starting to show a bit of age. Nose is youthful blackberry with pepper.... not a lot of sign of age just by the nose alone. Entry is a black cherry that has been dusted in sweeter tobacco. Iodine. A hint of mint to the middle and finish. I am amazed at the amount of tannin that is still on this bottle. This is a very nice balance of old and young. In a very good spot. Top 3. — 7 years ago
Flora Springs
Trilogy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014
Very beautiful...reminds me of a Barolo is the beginning....very complex and bold. But has this gentle landing. I am impressed. — 7 years ago
Continuum
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010
I am a fan of Continuum. The 2010 is intense and rich with red fruits, blackcurrent and mocha. There's terrific energy to this wine and although a little tight - still quite young and from magnum - it was a treat to taste. — 9 years ago
Domaine François Raveneau
Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2005
truly thunderous, not as fat as vintage would predict, it is a super bottle, wayyyyy better than the 09s tried recently. Drinking really well, there is clean fruit wrapped in acidity and minerality, no oyster shell or chalk, but very Chablis. Texture is rounding out, but there's still a nice bite and I am enjoying it very much. — 9 years ago
Château Léoville Barton
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001
This was ok. Not great. Nose was pleasing but palate was meh. We had with steak and grilled veggies, so it's not like the food didn't give it a fair shake. Coin toss as if to more time or the vintage. My gut says vintage and drink up, but I am just a simple minded middle aged American. Do what you will. Xo — 9 years ago
Gilbert Van Hassel
This will throw you off. First impression this is a young Rhône. First taste this a Rhône. The wine is all about power, full bodied, meaty. Not a lot of fruit nor any hard tannins. The wine is round and fills your mouth. Only on the back of your tongue you start experiencing some salinity and some of the typical barnyard Pinot. Not your regular clos de la roche, you either consider this as an anomaly or you can really like it. I decided to like it as a monumental effort but I am surprised it is a clos de l roche of one of the best producers. — 5 years ago