Just Grapes

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2021

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, spices and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Grenache blend is starting to drink very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Elegant and rich. Interesting and engaging. A very traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape in style.

Well balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of all 13 allowed grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but mostly Grenache. Hand picked and whole cluster. Aged for 2 years in large French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110.
— 6 months ago

Dave, Jay and 14 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Always one of my favorites. The 06 is a beutiful wine. Black and blue fruit, great minerality, tender tannins, wonderfully balanced. Regal texture, just wonderful with my steak tonight. The 06 are drinking wonderfully now. Always a pleasure! — 9 months ago

Somm, Joe and 8 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A love this. Ultra luxurious. Great concentration with refined textures. The texture is just liquid silk and it slowly but surely builds through the palate. You get your money’s worth when this style of cab is this well made. — 9 months ago

Joe, Ron and 8 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

The nose was weirdly muted and indiscernible. Also a bit tight but the finish was full and nice. It’s good but for the price and time in the bottle, it just left me unimpressed — 5 years ago

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2006

Beautifully light, with just a hint of Syrah smokiness at the edges and gentle but present tannins. Dried fruit and hints of licorice. Earthy meaty flavors. But all finesse and balance. — 6 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Enjoyed while cleaning out the boss' cellar. Say what you want about this wine, but the one thing you can say is that this wine is incredibly consistent. This wine reminds me of the family uncle who always gives you some silver dollars at Christmas...even though you are now a grown adult. And if you actually listen to his crazy advice on investing when you were a kid, you just might be able to be that Uncle when you grow up. This wine is a thoroughbred. Meant to be consumed at least after 10 years. And this wine is in a really good spot. The nose does show a tiny bit of age as does the palate. This is front-loaded with slightly aged blackberry and a bit brambly. This wine smoothed out quite a bit over 3 hours. Finish with very nice integration, a hint of stiff oak tannin but a lot of it has resolved. Very enjoyable. This wine still has another 10 or 15 years left. — 7 years ago

Sharon, Kirk and 29 others liked this
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@Mark Flesher Mark Good wine, producer and vintage a trifecta Cheers 🍷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice metaphor!

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Not even a classic vintage and this just blew my mind. Best wine I've ever tasted. From magnum. — 9 years ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Somm David T
9.1

Not quite as sensational as our bottle in February due to storage differences. Cooked fruit of; rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, dusty crush stones, leather, dark vanilla barrel toast, black earth and pebbles, black tea, hint of mushroom. Finishes soft and elegant with just a touch of funk. Hope you all enjoyed Christmas!!! — 10 years ago

Julie and Sofia 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

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 1981

Nutty, sherry-esque, youthful. Dosed to 11-14g. Just guessing. Flipping out right now! — 11 years ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2021

The aroma. If something tastes superb, it is how this wine impacts your senses. Smelling in the glass just before swallowing takes you to wine lovers heaven. Enjoyed with my wife, my son, sister in law and René, Who surprised all of us with this present. — 6 months ago

Luis, Joe and 5 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Somm David T
9.4

When Caymus was Caymus!!!

It is good to remember the style of wine Chuck used to make. His wine from 2011 backwards. The wine I used to collect. I refer to this now as Caymus Classic. I have requested they make this style again every time I see a Caymus representative. Just 500 cases by simply picking earlier at lower brix and applying past winemaking. They under estimate how fast those cases would sellout.

I get they made a business decision to make a sweeter wine that will drink easier young. They get better critic scores and sell to a larger customer base. A customer base that generally drinks it like supermarket buyers…within the first two weeks of purchase.

Of course, 1997 was an epic vintage in Napa and this 97 bought weeks ago has been well stored and in perfect condition. I miss this wine as it has so much more character than their 2012 vintage & forward. So do many former Caymus collectors.

The nose reveals, bright, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries that are just starting to reveal some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, dark spice, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets.

The palate is exquisite. It is all beauty with nothing bitty or angular. Ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, cassis, black raspberries, dark cherries with hints of some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries, mulberries as it unfurls & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco with ash, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, perfect dark spice with some tongue heat, mocha, dark chocolate baking bar, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, dry herbs, baking soda, dry limestone powder, top soil with pebbles, slightly moist volcanic clay, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets, excellent, rainfall acidity and an elegant, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured, polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on spice & gentle earthy tones. I miss their distinct spice. Glorious!!!

This bottle is somewhere on the other side of the bell curve and still singing. Still very sound. It won’t improve and recommend if you own, drink them sooner than later but certainly not a rush.

88% Cabernet, 10% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc. 25.95% Paladins, Skruggs, Wright-St. Helena. 52.15% Caymus Estate, Glos, Usibelli-Rutherford, 15.84% Sciambra-Atlas Peak, 6.06% Tambor Vineyards-Mt. Veeder.

Photos of: Caymus tasting room, tasting room courtyard, owner Chuck Wagner and vineyard.
— 7 months ago

Vanessa, Rick and 17 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

W. & J. Graham's

Six Grapes Reserve Porto Blend

Amazing Port to celebrate my brothers 50th birthday!!!! — 6 years ago

Wissam Nasr
with Wissam

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

It's just classic napa cab! Always good and 2012 is no exception. — 8 years ago

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2011

Light with hints of tart and sharp raspberries. Just a little bit of earth. Ok, better with food and cheese than by itself. — 8 years ago

Jason, Martin and 5 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1990

This $500+ bottle of pure gold is only fit for a small prince man by the name of Matthew Miller. Happy Birthday to the (not so) big man. This 1990 bottle tastes like the grapes were crushed decades ago, because they were. Amazing. — 9 years ago

Ryan liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah

Darn. Not showing tonight. Dominated by acid and tannin. Fruit just isn't ripe enough to hold up. Did better with food — 10 years ago

Jon MaxwellMichael OchsnerJon Robinson
with Jon, Michael and 1 other
Anthony liked this

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Classic aged California Cabernet. Just a few bottles left to be consumed over the next year or so. — 11 years ago

Susan GroverJudy Wagonfeld
with Susan and Judy
Susan and Ira liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Morgan Harris
9.4

2011. Blanc. No one drinks enough of this. That's because there are so few things to which its a good partner, but it would be an incredible cheese-and-charcuterie wine. Broad and oily, there's just enough acid to keep you coming back for more. Sun-baked yellow orchard fruits dominate, but there's more exotic fruits too (mango and dried pineapple) yellow flowers, tons of almond husk bitterness, green olives, bay leaf, oregano, tarragon, white cheddar. Oak is assertively present but not overwhelming. Place dominates over grapes here, as it's a mix of Clairette and Grenache Blanc and a hodge-podge of other things. — 11 years ago

Anthony, Hai and 22 others liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2017

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2017 (S) pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with pretty notes of mostly red, tart fruit: strawberry, raspberry, Montmorency cherry, licorice, dried green herbs, menthol, and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and just a touch mousy but within the acceptable range. Refreshing and a lovely pairing with burgers on a warm Spring evening. Drink now through 2032. — 6 months ago

Ceccherini, Lyle and 14 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 7 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Deborah and 18 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Another tip: I keep a bottle in the fridge to pour decanted sediment dregs into, and use it (except for the muddy bottom part) for cooking. That way my coq au vin or daube is braising in really good stuff from my cellar!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Tom C, good notes. Thanks for the tips. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x x I find the sediments can be bitter and usually try to remove them so they don't impact the wine. Hate them all over the side of the glass. Cheers!

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Oh so smooth with mellow plum and wild grape but not too sweet. Just right, yes. — 5 years ago

Joanna Clark
with Joanna

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Just thoroughly enjoyable. — 6 years ago

Rob, Shay and 22 others liked this
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

Great bottle..needs time? Cheers!

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
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@LM Segal Cheers 🍷

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Just piling on with the other comments. Absolutely brilliant. — 8 years ago

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Mark E
9.4

Very bready just like we like it. Delicious — 9 years ago

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

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2011

It just always delivers. 2011 is already very drinkable and don't try to save a few bucks and drink Ornellaia. There's a reason its the only italian wine with its own DOC. — 11 years ago

Clare Landry
with Clare
Jenn liked this

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 1996

As terrific as always! Great acidity, beautiful tart apple, just delicious! — 11 years ago