Initial

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

2013 - the absolute richest red I've had in a long time. Fruit subdued w/Wood & leather dark initial impression with very dry finish. Also felt a warm and funny buzz after 2 glasses (almost reminiscent of absinthe? - but that might just be us!!) — 8 years ago

R Whitelaw
with R
Kerry liked this

Bodegas Alto Moncayo

Campo de Borja Garnacha 2012

The cork is perfect. The color is opaque. The legs are thick, long, and slow to flow. The bouquet is English lavender and honey. The initial palate is amazing!!!!! WOW! Im so impressed! Black cherry and cranberry bliss. There is a red pepper , spicy tang that I absolutely love! I so want to share this with someone so bad. There is butter, coffee, , and clove. There is black currant and oak. The finish is not that dry and leaves a desire for more!!!!! I dare you to try to have just one glass because I have just had two glasses and I am aching for three ! Good grief, Im doing it. Three it is! Cheers my friends! Stay thirsty... ha ha. — 9 years ago

Kim, P and 12 others liked this
Marshall Todd Herron DPM

Marshall Todd Herron DPM Premium Badge

Love the glove !
Marshall Todd Herron DPM

Marshall Todd Herron DPM Premium Badge

Day three its still above a 9
Marshall Todd Herron DPM

Marshall Todd Herron DPM Premium Badge

Having it again on 3-8-17! It is awesome!!! I give it a 9.5 today.

Mount Veeder Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Delicate almost no aroma but some plums. Initial taste is smooth and velvet cocoa with blackberry and a hint of cherry. After reading the "cedar notes" on the bottle, the power of suggestion had me tasting it as well. — 9 years ago

Honig

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Thank Goodness for Napa Cabs! Especially after that last Oregon Pinot Noir! This is Honig 2013 cabernet sauvignon. A solar powered vineyard and family owned. Love the bee and the H! The cork was perfect. The color is opaque purple. The bouquet is fantastic with aromas of blackberry jam and African violets. The initial palate is butter chocolate spicy blackberry and figs. The finish is long and has an oaky dry ending. There is no sour anything!!! This is delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow we try Turnbull... — 9 years ago

Weijie, Eric and 26 others liked this
Kristine Fitts

Kristine Fitts

Great description.
Andrea Alcaro

Andrea Alcaro

The reserve cab tasting at Honig's vineyard was outstanding, highly recommend. My kind of Napa cab 😊

Domaine Jean Michel Stéphan

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2004

Paul Costigan
9.3

2004: Entrancing nose of dried herbs and grilled beets. Surprisingly well developed, initial blind guess was that it might be from the mid 90's. Terrific layers of fruit with a hint of light brine and white pepper. Memorable. — 10 years ago

Rene Rostaing

Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2011

In perfect condition three months after initial coravin access of a half bottle. Left in a cellar in between. #fuckingawesome — 11 years ago

Hai, Joon and 2 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2006

Ron R
9.4

Initial notes of maturity, peaches, apricots, bread, with yeast.
Palette is consistent, with additional lemon zest and wood. Nice balance and acidity. Surprisingly showing its age. Drew lavished 95 pts on this, so editorial liberties kick in here.
— 8 years ago

Andrew Moore
with Andrew
Robert, Isaac and 30 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

PS, regarding this wine, we further chilled the bottle for 90 mins, and it just exploded with life and flavor thereafter. I'll take the score up another notch as a result.
Shawn R

Shawn R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Ron R good, will drink all mine!
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Good luck, @Shawn R. We're gonna take a look at 03 Dom tonight. A comparison is in order 🙂

Jacques Selosse

Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay 1999

I bought this bottle last year after being mesmerised by a bottle of initial, and I opened it to celebrate a birthday. This is as close to a perfect bottle of bubbly as I have been able to do find. The oxidized nature of Selosse wines makes complete sense in this type of bottling. Tastes like it has more years than it does.
The acidity amps up all the gorgeous apple, pear and dried fruit flavors and the minerality is there playing along but not overpowering while the finish is silky and outstanding.
Truly an amazing bottle. Save your pennies and try one! Bucket list bubbly for sure
— 9 years ago

Eric and jesus liked this

G.D. Vajra

Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2011

Really interesting. The initial attack is oddly to my sweet receptors, but it's a bit of a head fake. The middle is a right amount of acidity, followed by solid tannins. Color leans toward brick brown. Dark fruits, licorice...
91+ points
— 9 years ago

Eric, Bill and 9 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2013

Penfolds Bin 389 Shiraz 2013. Bam! Black currant, spice, leather, and lip curling deliciousness! The cork was perfect. The color was very opaque! The bouquet is blackberry pie and vanilla ice cream. The initial palate is black currant and spice. It has a leather and pepper finish with a slight sour hint of raspberry. It has a long finish and leaves your mouth dry but dying for another taste! Wonderful wine from south Australia! It is as good as any California red Ive ever had! FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— 9 years ago

David, Weijie and 16 others liked this
P A

P A

Yes!

Thomas

Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2009

Popped and waited 30 minutes. Initial pour was aggressively herbal, almost chive-y. Quickly passed and settled into a satisfyingly mineral phase. Later on, transformed into black cherry and shining acidity. Quite the shapeshifter. With all that said, methinks this cat needs to sleep awhile longer, still wound a little tight. — 10 years ago

Anthony, Chris and 2 others liked this

Long Shadows Vintners

Pirouette Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Wonderful black cherry notes on the initial palette with flinty-rose aroma and plenty of tannic grip. That flinty aroma transfers into a very subtle minerality behind the initial black cherry, further underlaid by currant and plum. Yum!! — 11 years ago

Cameron Hughes

Lot 381 Lodi Zinfandel 2011

Initial aroma of a peppery zin. Lingering middle that coats the tongue. And builds slightly and then then fades. Very excellent zin. — 12 years ago

Hourglass

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Well structured and full-bodied with smooth tannins a long beautiful finish. My initial comment was, "there are no words". Pairing it with some ribeyes and some perfectly grilled salmon, a vegetable kugel, and a slab of mac & cheese. The perfect meal! — 9 years ago

Roar

Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Charlie Beatty
9.8

Wow yes a long week in wine Bizz! Now fun begins, trying 2 great Roar 2014's Pinot. Pisoni vs Rosella. The Pisoni 2014 is Awesome! Even a Big Wow in my book. Bright Cherries rich Berry flavors and good acidity it always tough doing Brother vs Sister from the same Family! My initial review gives this a CB 98! Available in tiny quantities. We are at Bedtime ( mine at least) 2 hours later! This great wine started to fade! Be Aware! Still same press! — 9 years ago

Steph BeattyChris Cree MWAnn Marie Sgroi
with Steph, Chris and 6 others
Greg, Eric and 45 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind:

Med+ intensity, lots of black fruits, stewed cherries, cherry pie, underlying new oak, beginning to just show some tertiary character.

Palate was ripe, med+ tannin, med acidity. Similar flavors on the palate. A bit of black pepper and cinnamon. Good finish.

Initial conclusions were either a a high quality southern Rhone producer, possibly Languedoc (Mas Du Mas Gassac), perhaps a Minervois, an Italian super Tuscan (similar to 'Ornellaia), Napa (in a cooler vintage) and only was Bordeaux a final guess!
— 9 years ago

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

#KWN Wine 3. From the get-go, clearly had some age to it. Exhibits initial cherry fruit, which immediately falls into the background. Secondary flavors of leather, forest floor and clay quickly overtake the palate. A Smoky finish with hints of eucalyptus. Opened up nicely over a couple of hours. Magical. — 9 years ago

Andrew, Anthony and 1 other liked this

Neal Family Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

This is Neal 2011 100% Napa Cabernet. The cork is perfect. The color is pitch purple black. The bouquet is a bit sharp but very nice with hints of roses and blueberry bushes filled with ripe fruit! The initial palate has a quick boysenberry and blackberry with a somewhat dry long finish of chocolate and silky smooth coffee. I need another sip NOW! — 9 years ago

David, Eric and 15 others liked this
Neil Barham

Neil Barham Influencer Badge

Biodynamic

Clos de la Vieille Eglise

Côtes de Castillon Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

15 dollars. Dry red. Bright initial taste. Lots of minerals. Lingers in a good way. Nice nose. — 10 years ago

Château Angélus

St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Closed.....needs to breathe. Initial nose is intoxicatingly rich and powerful. Dark chocolate and cassis pervade. After decanting for 1/2 hour the underlying notes of citrus rind and pepper - however faint, begin to make an appearance. — 11 years ago