Just Grapes

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2007

Bit mixed on this wine and to be honest super Tuscans in general. This Tig has some serious secondary shoe leather notes at this point. Still has some quite nice fruit and just barely enough acid, but overall was hoping for a bit more verve. — 6 months ago

Jason, Severn and 2 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2006

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 6 months ago

Ira, Jan and 15 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Medium deep ruby with thin ruby rim. Quite high toned ripe fruit at first, cassis, blackberry , violet and dry spice. Quite round and generous on the nose still fruit driven. On the palate Ripe fruits, but with good freshness, with cassis blueberry , blackberry and dark cherry . Suave polished tannins and surprisingly fresh acidity. Overall excellent balance. Long with a sweet cassis tinged finish . Rich , round and hedonistic but well balanced overall, just entering its early drinking window where it will probably remain over the next 15 years . — 8 months ago

Tom, Shay and 10 others liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2016

In a delicious spot. Just needs one hour decant. Love this wine. Smooth as a baby’s butt. Drinks like a Burgundy. — 2 years ago

Peter, Tom and 6 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Had a bottle 6 mos ago. Blend of 95% Cab Sauv, 4% Merlot, rest Petit Verdot, Malbec & Cab Franc, blended then aged for 24 mos in 50% new & 50% once-used American oak. Deep Ruby, youthful aromas of black fruit, sweet cacao & complex spice. Palate shows flavors of rich ripe juicy berries & cherries, core of sweet fruit with oak & vanilla notes. Nicely integrated firm, graceful tannins, long finish, displays primary fruits on ending, just beginning to develop some secondary aging, approachable now. Excellent. — 5 years ago

Alex, Shay and 4 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

The wine of Martie’s birthday dinner. It just has it all. Verve, tart but not thin. Mouth filling body. Next to the 1988, my favorite Krug. — 6 years ago

Craig Williams
with Craig
Craig, Steve and 3 others liked this
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

Your drinking nice bubbles
Conrad Green

Conrad Green Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Glad it’s a good bottle- when on song these are great. Krug-tastic tasting!
Craig Williams

Craig Williams

For me, this really blossomed over a few hours. Terrific!

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Bright, clear ruby with a great nose of cassis, blackberry, violet and mint.
Beautiful length and finesse. Great impression of crushed fruit with hints of forest floor and cedar. The finish leaves a lasting impression of sweet red fruit and supported by a soft blanket of tannins. This is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove - just lovely
— 7 years ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

It’s just so good when it touches your lips. Still deep purple in color with mocha, currant, cherry , licorice touch of mineral and tobacco. Very Bordeaux like and very awesome — 7 years ago

Adam Quarello
with Adam
Adam, Shay and 8 others liked this
Adam Quarello

Adam Quarello

So good! Herbs, spices and leather. A testament to Napa.

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

At Redstone w/Shelly. Just back from Orlando w/Rettke. #pro — 10 years ago

Rick ZJeff HennikeKirk F
with Rick, Jeff and 2 others

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

A bit of oxidation, but otherwise, just fine. Fruit still there. 1970, 45 year old wine for our 45th Anniversary. — 10 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 6 months ago

Bob, Tom and 16 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Last tasted 9.25.23 (9.2) after 1.5 hours decanted. Popped and decanted this for lunch. Great fill and solid cork. Throwing a bit of sed but less than anticipated. Meh nose. Medium body initially. Started off on the rich side of the ledger but not plush. Had some smoothness afoot. Tasted after 45 mins open, 1.75 hours open and 8 hours open. First two were unspectacular. After lounging in the decanter 8 hours, wine had firmed up, thinned out, picked up plenty of secondary flavors and had that previously missing grip. If you're gonna open this during the holidays or anytime soon, do it very very early...otherwise, it'll be a total waste. Wine has miles to go. No rush to crush but just air it out in advance properly. 10.16.24. — 7 months ago

Ira, Jan and 21 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Nice long description!

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 1978

From Mag. An absolute wow of a bottle. The nose is crazy intense, lucid and profound. Dark plum fruit with a whiff of band aid, iron, black pepper, a tangy meatiness. Loads of delicate floral notes floating around, but a soulful and pristine bottle. As fresh as an early 2000’s bottle but so much age and precision going on. Wonderful. Just spectacular. — 8 months ago

Jan, Andrew and 13 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

My second favorite after Ruinart. Lovely fine bubbles exuding citrus, orange marmalade, and just baked brioche. Delicious for brunch and Sunday football. — 5 years ago

Brian liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Hard to imagine a more classic / perfect Bordeaux nose. Just screams those dark red fruit with leather and earth on the nose. Would not have guessed it was this old. Hard to say, though, if it will come together more with time versus staying slightly disjointed - the tannins and acid sort of follow after each other without a seamlessness that I’d expect. But still delicious. — 5 years ago

Severn, Jason and 9 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Red and dark fruit and flowers aromas, wonderful nose, no alcohol, just very smooth and fruity. Red and dark fruit, some citrus, some floral, very smooth and balanced, pairs well with food. One of my favorites. — 6 years ago

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

So beautiful and clear in its purpose, titillating on the nose and fulfilling its promises beyond. Balanced and velvety dark red fruit, hints of black tea and cassis but all in a more Old than New World Gestalt. Lots of secondary stuff emerging you just want to sip it slowly. If anybody wonders how well these age, track one down, it’s so worth it. Kudos @Cathy Corison for making this distinctive and enduring bottle! — 7 years ago

Shay, Tom and 32 others liked this
P A

P A

@LM Segal Cheers 🍷

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Last year I wrote:"Just lovely. Some pepper on the nose. Gamey while it was cold. Then it turned to silk with notes of leather, cassis, and soft tannins. Elegant."

The only thing I would add is that the dark berries sing in harmony with the balanced tannins.
— 7 years ago

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 1998

Charles (Chad) Bucklin
9.9

My first #chateaurayas and now I understand the hype. Very Burgundian in style but this is just a unique wine deserving its own category. This wine had profound complexity and was perfectly balanced. It is so young. #chateauneufdupape #southernrhone #rhonevalley #grenache #ctbucklinwine — 9 years ago

Jacob liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

This was poured through a Zazzol aerator and just spilled out Cassis, black olive, cigar box and vanilla/brown sugar from the glass. Should she well for another 8-10 years. Delicious! — 10 years ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2015

A high quality champagne just not the style of DP I seek out. I found this vintage hedonistic versus serious. Obviously very young. I wish I had the skill set to speculate on how this will turn out with time. — 6 months ago

Tyler, Jan and 36 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Across many of my favorite producers, the 2015 vintage isn’t my favorite expression. It’s good, but like you said, it’s pretty flashy.

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2012

One of our absolute favorites. Light and living and just effervescent with lemon curd and clean starfruit and just enough acid to keep the structure together. Incredibly delicate and a well done balancing act to get these flavors to exist with just enough yeast to reflect the lees. Absolutely delightful.  — 7 months ago

Denise Espinoza
with Denise
Byron, Ron and 17 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2007

A day 2 tasting. Slightly stewed fruit that reminded me for just a moment of some liquor and white pepper. — 8 months ago

Ira, Neil and 2 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

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

Terroir .. just amazing .. smooth and ripe to drink — 4 years ago

Gunja Gargeshwari
with Gunja
Gunja, Mike and 3 others liked this
Gunja Gargeshwari

Gunja Gargeshwari

Jeroboam!!

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

375ml - spectacular bursts of citrus with vanilla and coconut. Just wonderful — 5 years ago

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2008

Blackberry jam, pepper, a bit of celer, tar, meat juice with a gamey note too. It's intoxicating and it calls for a quick dive. The palate starts with a very nice blackberry jam layer which expands on the width but soon comes a massive acid backbone which pushes the structure toward the end of the palate. It's super powerful yet very complex with different layers: some grip on the side, a buttery, creamy touch and mouthfeel, the acid backbone and some tannins which kick-start and expending finish, very fresh, with blackberry and pepper and a slightly bitter note, just underlined by the gently drying tannins. This is magnificent and comes easily in my top 3 wines all time. I love it and it's an understatement. #birthdaytreat — 5 years ago

Alex, Peter and 22 others liked this
Daniel M

Daniel M

Thank you @Ken Z !
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Daniel Maquin Happy Birthday. Great to have one of your top 3 wines of all time.
Daniel M

Daniel M

@Bob McDonald yes, Thank you!

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Amazing when first opened but crashed after 20 minutes. I did a light decant so maybe just do that right when you serve dinner ! — 7 years ago

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

B
9.0

3L 1995 Shafer Hillside Select CS. Group dinner at Nmd. Probably should have decanted it longer than the hour we did. It was going through a really funky stage. Just very one-note and dull. — 7 years ago

leon liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2009

Rick K
9.2

Ripe cherry nose with subtle earthy notes. Just a hint of the merde. Really interesting, a little funky. — 8 years ago

Weijie liked this

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013

Deep reddish/purple color which has me on guard relative to Pinot. Worried that darker than lighter raspberry red has had Mega Red or other manipulation but this Pinot just has concentrated character. Varietal rose petal and cherry notes in aromas. You can see the broad influence from the 3 appellations that comprise the wine. Weighty on the palate without being too over bearing for the varietal. Great accompaniment to the saffron broth salmon this evening. — 10 years ago

Maxence, Josh and 5 others liked this