Imagine Wine

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1945

Delectable Wine
10

The 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion from the château cellar is transcendental. It is blessed with the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine, effortless and natural, featuring woodland, red-berried fruits, a minerally quality and a faint touch of leafiness; given time to settle, it develops a lovely gamy note. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied and sublimely balanced, upholding that effortless grace with an elegant, bittersweet, dried orange peel finish. One of the most harmonious wines I have ever consumed. Perfect. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London in September 2009. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Alex, Mike and 5 others liked this

Calabretta

Sicilia Nerello Mascalese 2005

Last of several bottles, 2005 vintage- still strong but perhaps some wear & tear. Still, an elegant (for Etna) wine, brick red in appearance, strong acidic backbone yet lithe in its medium body. Black fruits, no blueberries here, & the strong tannins are mostly integrated.I can imagine the Pinot comparisons, but feel this kind of Etna is even more unique. Has a slight petrol character, not unpleasant, reminds of a modern Alsatian Pinot noir. Nothing suave here either, but the in house aging & overall old school approach reminds too of old school Rioja like Lopez. Oh, & these sell for under 30$. Crazy. — 6 years ago

Owen Mazon
with Owen
P, Severn and 7 others liked this
Owen Mazon

Owen Mazon

A bloody delight!
9.3

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2008

First time trying the 2008 - Spectacular balance - power and finesse. Lemon brioche with the chalk even coming though on the nose. The palette is just grand - long and winding. Fresh acid but the mid and finish are soft and long. Hard to have sufficient words. Can’t imagine this in 10 years. — 7 years ago

Shay and Jonathan liked this

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Volcanic Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Still 15-20 years left in this bad boy! Can’t imagine how this tasted out of the barrel. — 8 years ago

Evan LaPointeKristen Weinstein
with Evan and Kristen
Greg liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Shay A
9.3

Needless to say, we slayed some dragons tonight. Let the birthday week continue!

This was the one wine that was poured blind from the evening. I guessed Napa (check), I guessed early 2000s (check), but figured it a petite sirah, mainly due to the amount of lively fruit in this! Since my experience with Caymus is limited to the 40th anniversary, you can imagine how my eyes were opened. At 16yrs old, this was blueberry pie, cassis, chocolate liquor and great oak integration. Tannins were PERFECT at this point. Open if you have it!
— 9 years ago

Mark Flesher
with Mark
Mark, Ron and 39 others liked this
Shay A

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@Patrick Derdeyn : I understand that. However, I can appreciate how this showed in comparison to the 40th anniversary Caymus...that stuff is like vanilla cough syrup. They know how to sell it though!
Bill Makens

Bill Makens

You need to have another birthday next week. I'll help celebrate!!
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Bill Makens : Ha! I won't turn it down! There should be some good stuff at Classic next Tuesday for that wine tasting event!

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

1995 vintage. Gorgeous rose petal, cherry, plum notes in the nose with a whiff of smoke. Dropped the baby fat and medium-bodied. Nicely integrated and incorporates the bouquet particulars along with graphite, cedar and dust. At the top of the bell curve and I can't imagine it getting any better. Delicious. — 10 years ago

Mike liked this
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

Very nice and great note

Alchemist Pub and Brewery

Heady Topper Double IPA 2020

Very well balanced. This reminds me of Sierra Nevada celebration mixed with a tropical/citrus hazy of the moment. I can only imagine having this 10 years ago and being shocked with flavor similar to pliny. What makes this great for me is the excellent malt backbone that isn’t sweet or boozy. — 6 years ago

Dingač Winery

Plavac Red Blend 2017

Very drinkable plavac with lots of berries and raisins. Held up against a spicy red sauce, but imagine it could accompany something more delicate as well. Versatile and cheap...quite a combo! — 6 years ago

Ron liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2004

Drink this now. Just wow. Christmas Eve pull. Cinnamon and licorice. Well balanced and fully integrated. Nice legs on the glass. Great finish. Silky tannins. Can’t imagine this will get any better. Wish I had more. — 7 years ago

Shay, Keith and 6 others liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Rosso Merlot Blend 2010

Sweat nose, making me imagine it has already been ready. But initially still feeling lots of tanning. More than one hour, very smooth and I am sure that it is quite higher level than 3rd one. Of course, 2010. 8 year's vintage. Excellent! @1750, Wineplus - , 180430-180615 — 8 years ago

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Clairette Blend

Delicious now, but can’t imagine how much better it will be even later. — 8 years ago

Peter Michael Winery

Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir 2009

2009 drinking perfectly and with the distinct Pisoni fruit. Hard to imagine a more enjoyable Pinot. — 9 years ago

Paul and Anthony liked this

Marie et Pierre Bénetière

Cordeloux Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

I've been looking forward to trying this producer, and I was not let down! I can only imagine the price will lee going up... gamey, herbal, spicy, refined, elegant. So good! And 2012 is decilous now, though I'm sure will only get better! — 9 years ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1940

I can’t imagine how 79 year old Bordeaux could be more complete and beautiful. Lived at the winery until 2011. Amazing — 6 years ago

Tom, Paul and 12 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Excellent, excellent montelena. This wine was subject to a flood during Hurricane Sandy but has held up very well. Really delicious example of Napa cab made in an old school style. Can’t imagine a better pairing for a steak. — 6 years ago

Jason liked this

Cédric Bouchard

Roses de Jeanne La Bolorée Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Disgorgement date April 2016. Like drinking stars... bright, light, ethereal... imagine grand cru burgundy with the tiniest pinprick bubbles gushing flavors of ripe pear and green apple... a true bargain if you can find it...absolute elegance and weightless brilliance. — 7 years ago

Shay, Mark and 3 others liked this

Villa Creek Cellars

Avenger Paso Robles Syrah Blend 2008

Wow. A great wine from Cris Cherry at Villa Creek, this 2008 syrah/mourvedre/grenache blend is drinking absolutely perfectly right now. Really sweet nose of candied blackberries coupled with some earthy undertones. The tannins ate totally resolved and leave a sweet (but not cloying) palate that has an impressive amount of fruit for a 10-year-old wine. Not sure how much longer this will last given the tannin profile...but I also can’t imagine it drinking any better than it is right now. — 7 years ago

Vanessa McCaffrey
with Vanessa
Chris, Hector and 8 others liked this
Shawn R

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Sleeper producer

Mollydooker Wines

Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 2009

Bold and powerful. I imagine this was a complete fruit bomb originally, but after 7 years, this has softened up and become quite enjoyable. — 8 years ago

TheSkip, Jon and 1 other liked this

Realm Cellars

The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Love. can't imagine a wine with a longer finish or more mouth feel. What a treat. With a one hour decant it didn't feel sharp or young in the slightest. — 9 years ago

David liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1983

This was one of those wow wines, where you find yourself at a loss for words. I had the same wine two weeks before, and it was solid, but not memorable. It's hard to imagine this is the same wine. It was just perfect. — 9 years ago

Ira and Chris liked this