L. Métairie S. A.
Walter Hansel Winery
Cahill Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
I really enjoy pairing wine with food. One thing I like to do when I work events like these is to offer guests wine that has achieved its perfect bottle phase and this didn’t disappoint. So often you go to a restaurant or an event and all they offer are new releases or close enough. Wine needs time in bottle to shine. This one was at its peak and for many guests was the wine of the night. I’d have trouble disagreeing with that.
Wine was seamless and elegant. Ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark cherries, some blackberries, plum and soft florals blueberries on the edge of the glass. Great acidity and round long finish. This was better than some $100 plus bottles of Pinot’s I’ve had for a faction of the price. It walks the fence of CA Pinot & Burgundy nicely.
The dish paired perfectly with Hedy’s, Fresh Summer Beans, Pumpernickel Crouton, Yogurt Dressing, Chive, Preserved Lemon. The perfect age on the Cahill married beautifully with the dish and excellent on its own. The food did not overpower the dish, nor did the dish overpower the wine.
The 08 Cahill was a recent direct purchase from the winery through K&L Wine Merchants. It was like stealing, it was priced so inexpensively.
Walter Hansel made his fortune in the auto business; which allowed him to pursue his other passion in wine. He and his son’s first vintage was 1996. They are located near Kistler and Dehlinger in Sonoma. The Cahill is made from a blend of three clones; 114, 115 and Rochioli.
One interesting fun fact. Walter Hansel was among the first people to drive a car into the Yosemite Valley in the early 1900’s.
Hedy on FB @Plate&Bottle — 7 years ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1961
Can’t drink 61’s and not include Latour! This was a treat but shows at 50+ years there are no great wines just great bottles. This had the floral nose I remember of roses and dried fruits l, but was a little thin and missing it’s vibrancy I remember from he last bottle I had a year ago. Still an amazing treat and very grateful for the guest who brought it. Wonderful. Dr. Latour approves! — 7 years ago
Mas Jullien
Coteaux du Languedoc Red Blend 2012
Légère réduction à l ouverture , carafe puis le vin s équilibre et on a un grand Languedoc pas encore très complexe , mais un superbe équilibre et une belle bouche fraîche — 7 years ago
Domaine Bernard Baudry
La Croix Boissée Chinon Cabernet Franc 2003
Année de canicule , le vin a superbement tenu , nez cabernet noble ( pas de poivron 😜) , pas une énorme complexité , mais je pense qu à l aveugle y a certains crus de St émilion qui peuvent s inquiéter — 8 years ago
Frazier
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Medium ruby core with garnet edges. Aged characteristics on the nose with damp earth, a little espresso, a touch smoky, cinnamon and stewed plums. Medium tannins (6/10) and plus medium body. Dark cocoa on the attack of the palate intermingled with plums, black currants, black cherries and lots of spices. A bit of anise and the Petit Verdot coming through in the medium plus finish. Drink till 2018.
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Starting today we are partnering with Vinlumin in order to raise money for those affected by the wildfires in Northern California earlier this month. Until November 15th or for the first 200 units, Vinlumin will be donating $100.00 per unit to three different Northern California based charities: Napa Valley Disaster Relief Fund, Sonoma Resilience Fund and Mendocino Community Fund. Go to www.vinlumin.com to learn more and to grab one while supporting those affected in Northern California.
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@David L @Ron R @Martin G Rivard @Martin A. Cody @James Cahill @Carl Fischer @Shawn R @Joe Lucca @Bill Bender @Eric S @Isaac Pirolo @TheSkip @Mike R @Lori Mike @Jody Scharf @Jo Anne B @Kim Stanbro @Roman Sukley @Greg Gregory @Sean Smith @Shay Aldriedge — 8 years ago
Rosenblum Cellars
Rockpile Road Vineyard Zinfandel 2003
Big rich full bodied wine! Wow after 14 years it still needs more time. If you like deep dark fully extracted fruit that possesses chocolate, plum, blackberry flavors like I do, then this is your wine. Good luck finding a bottle..... @Paul Treadway @Evan Bienstock @leon egozi @Eric S @Eric LaMasters @Jacqueline @Vanessa D @Carl Fischer @Jim Trobaugh @James Parker Huston, CWE @David L @Warren Sapp @TheSkip @Terri Walker @Terri Walker @Warren Sapp @jesus g @Kimberly Anderson — 8 years ago
Schramsberg Vineyards
J. Schram Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2008
This is an excellent example of honey, vanilla, toasted brioche, and very elegant body. Refined bubbles reminiscent of the Dom Ruinart.
Please make time to get a tour from this wonderful gentlemen. Jesus you have an inviting personality that is old school in every way!
@jesus g @Paul T @Martin G Rivard @Neal Schaffer @TheSkip @Terri Walker @Warren Sapp @Vanessa D @Jacqueline @Bill Bender @leon egozi @David L @Doug Davidson @Eric S @Eric LaMasters @Jim Trobaugh @Carl Fischer — 8 years ago
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)
La Tâche Pinot Noir 2001
2001 DRC La Tache. Dinner at Rep w DS, A&L S, McC. Amazing. Did not decant. Much bigger than the ‘85 Griotte-Chambertin. — 7 years ago
Kalinda
Cuvée Réserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Continuing to kick off the un-labor weekend early in the D&S Lounge.
For those of you who haven’t seen me post Kalinda, it’s a private label from K&L Wine Merchants. They buy a quality producers juice or have them make a wine for them. I don’t know who made this wine but, they are a quality Oakville producer. This bottle cost me $18.99 about eight years ago and it tastes better than some Napa Cabernets at $75 plus that I’ve had. You just have to wait on them 5-10 years. This is somewhere near its peak.
It’s a slice of blue fruit heaven. On the nose, blueberries, mulberries, olallieberries, plum, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, vanilla, sweet mixed berry cola, light cinnamon, soft dark spice, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dry top soil, black cherry licorice, a waft of dry herbs with bright dark red florals and violets.
The palate is round and full. Tannins are 80% resolved. The texture is sexy. The structure, length, tension and balance are in perfect harmony, (Seals & Croft/America on the album “Horse With No Name” style). Lush, ripe; blueberries, mulberries, olallieberries, plum, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Vanilla, sweet mixed berry cola, light cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, soft dark spice that penetrates the palate with some heat, tarry notes, dry stems, soft leather, tobacco with ash, graphite, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dry top soil, black cherry licorice, a waft of dry herbs with bright dark red florals and violets. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finishes (minutes) is, round, lush, balanced, elegant harmony. It’s beautifully delicious.
Photos of; the D&S lounge lit up by candle power only and always. — 7 years ago
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000
The 2000 is delicious but, it is evolving at a glacial pace. Out of magnum.
On the nose, touch of barnyard, glycerin, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, strawberries & cherries. Vanilla, dry clay, limestone, river stones, just a touch of pyrazines & bandaid, dark,,turned, moist earth, dry grass and dry & fresh dark florals.
The body is full, round & sexy. Dry softened, sweet tannins. ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, strawberries & cherries. Vanilla, dry clay, limestone, river stones, just a touch of pyrazines & bandaid, fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood, dry underbrush, dark, turned, moist earth, dry grass and dry & fresh dark florals. The acidity is magnificent. The structure, tension, length and balance are sensational. The finish is drop dead gorgeous. I’d still hold mine another 5 years as long as you have 3-4 bottles for more 5 year increments.
Photos of, their Estate vines, Clyde Beffa-Owner of K&L Wine Merchants, Owner of Chateau Lynch Bages - Jean-Michel Cazes, guests of the dinner and a sunset view from their Estate.
Producer notes and history...Lynch Bages takes its name from the local area where the Chateau is located in Bages. The vineyard of what was to become Lynch Bages was established and then expanded by the Dejean family who sold it in 1728 to Pierre Drouillard.
In 1749, Drouillard bequeathed the estate to his daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Lynch. This is how the estate came to belong to the Lynch family, where it remained for seventy-five years and received the name Lynch Bages. However, it was not always known under that name.
For a while the wines were sold under the name of Jurine Bages. In fact, when the estate was Classified in the 1855 Classification of the Medoc, the wines were selling under the name of Chateau Jurine Bages. That is because the property was owned at the time by a Swiss wine merchant, Sebastien Jurine.
In 1862, the property was sold to the Cayrou brothers who restored the estate’s name to Chateau Lynch family.
Around 1870, Lou Janou Cazes and his wife Angelique were living in Pauillac, close to Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron. It was here that Jean-Charles Cazes, the couple’s second son, was born in 1877.
In the 1930’s, Jean-Charles Cazes, who was already in charge of Les-Ormes-de-Pez in St. Estephe agreed to lease the vines of Lynch Bages. By that time, the Cazes family had history in Bordeaux dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century.
This agreement to take over Lynch Bages was good for both the owner and Jean Charles Cazes. Because, the vineyards had become dilapidated and were in need of expensive replanting, which was too expensive for the owner. However, for Cazes, this represented an opportunity, as he had the time, and the ability to manage Lynch Bages, but he lacked the funds to buy the vineyard.
Jean-Charles Cazes eventually purchased both properties on the eve of the Second World War. Lynch Bages and Les-Ormes-de-Pez have been run by the Cazes family ever since. In 1988, the Cazes family added to their holdings in Bordeaux when they purchased an estate in the Graves region, Chateau Villa Bel Air.
Around 1970, they increased their vineyards with the purchase of Haut-Bages Averous and Saussus. By the late 1990’s their holdings had expanded to nearly 100 hectares! Jean-Michel Cazes who had been employed as an engineer in Paris, joined the wine trade in 1973. In a short time, Jean Michel Cazes modernized everything at Lynch Bages.
He installed a new vat room, insulated the buildings, developing new technologies and equipment, built storage cellars, restored the loading areas and wine storehouses over the next fifteen years. During that time period, Jean Michel Cazes was the unofficial ambassador of not just the Left Bank, but all of Bordeaux. Jean Michel Cazes was one of the first Chateau owners to begin promoting their wine in China back in 1986.
Bages became the first wine sent into space, when a French astronaut carried a bottle of 1975 Lynch Bages with him on the joint American/French space flight!
Beginning in 1987, Jean-Michel Cazes joined the team at the insurance company AXA, who wanted to build an investment portfolio of quality vineyards in the Medoc, Pomerol, Sauternes, Portugal and Hungary.
Jean-Michel Cazes was named the director of the wine division and all the estates including of course, the neighboring, Second Growth, Chateau Pichon Baron.
June 1989 marked the inauguration of the new wine making facilities at Lynch Bages, which was on of their best vintages. 1989 also marked the debut of the Cordeillan- hotel and restaurant where Sofia and I had one of our best dinners ever. A few years after that, the Village de Bages with its shops was born.
The following year, in 1990, the estate began making white wine, Blanc de Lynch Bages. In 2001, the Cazes family company bought vineyards in the Rhone Valley in the Languedoc appellation, as well as in Australia and Portugal. They added to their holdings a few years later when they purchased a vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape.
In 2006, Jean-Charles Cazes took over as the managing director of Chateau Lynch Bages. Jean-Michel Cazes continues to lead the wine and tourism division of the family’s activities. Due to their constant promotion in the Asian market, Chateau Lynch Bages remains one of the strongest brands in the Asian market, especially in China.
In 2017, Chateau Lynch Bages began a massive renovation and modernization, focusing on their wine making, and technical facilities. The project, headed by the noted architects Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei, the sons of the famous architect that designed the glass pyramid for the Louvre in Paris as well as several other important buildings.
The project will be completed in 2019. This includes a new grape, reception center, gravity flow wine cellar and the vat rooms, which will house at least, 80 stainless steel vats in various sizes allowing for parcel by parcel vinification.
The new cellars will feature a glass roof, terraces with 360 degree views and completely modernized reception areas and offices. They are not seeing visitors until it’s completion.
In March, 2017, they purchased Chateau Haut Batailley from Françoise Des Brest Borie giving the Cazes family over 120 hectares of vines in Pauillac!
The 100 hectare vineyard of Lynch Bages is planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vineyard has a terroir of gravel, chalk and sand soils.
The vineyard can be divided into two main sections, with a large portion of the vines being planted close to the Chateau on the Bages plateau. At their peak, the vineyard reaches an elevation of 20 meters. The other section of the vineyard lies further north, with its key terroir placed on the Monferan plateau.
They also own vines in the far southwest of the appellation, next Chateau Pichon Lalande, on the St. Julien border, which can be used in the Grand Vin. The vineyard can be split into four main blocks, which can be further subdivided into 140 separate parcels.
The average age of the vines is about 30 years old. But they have old vines, some of which are close to 90 years old.
The vineyards are planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is about 30 years old. But they have old vines, some of which are close to 90 years old.
Lynch Bages also six hectares of vine are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux wine of Chateau Lynch Bages. Those vines are located to the west of the estate. They are planted to 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Semillon and 15% Muscadelle. On average, those vines are about 20 years of age. Lynch Bages Blanc made its debut in 1990.
To produce the wine of Chateau Lynch Bages, vinification takes place 35 stainless steel vats that vary in size. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of 30% French, oak barrels with the remainder taking place in tank.
The wine of Chateau Lynch Bages is aged in an average of 70% new, French oak barrels for between 12 and 15 months. Due to the appellation laws of Pauillac, the wine is sold as a generic AOC Bordeaux Blanc, because Pauillac does not allow for the plantings of white wine grapes.
For the vinification of their white, Bordeaux wine, Blanc de Lynch-Bages is vinified in a combination of 50% new, French oak barrels, 20% in one year old barrels and the remaining 30% is vinified in vats. The wine is aged on its lees for at least six months. The white wine is sold an AOC Bordeaux wine.
The annual production at Lynch Bages is close to 35,000 cases depending on the vintage.
The also make a 2nd wine, which was previously known as Chateau Chateau Haut Bages Averous. However, the estate changed its name to Echo de Lynch Bages beginning with the 2007 vintage. The estate recently added a third wine, Pauillac de Lynch-Bages.
— 7 years ago
Azienda Agricola Barbacarlo di Lino Maga
Barbacarlo Provincia di Pavia IGT 2011
Many have said to be weary of bottle variation, but this was incredible last night. Tasted with the importer here in Australia - Michael at Quelvino. Previously Coravin-ed bottle, so maybe why it didn't have the spritz everyone talks about.
So inky and meaty. The palate screams sour cherries with an array of spices and herbs. There's a richness imparted by some RS too, I feel. What stumped me the most was the finish - started of big and tannic, then evovles into this subtle drive that goes on and on. I'm guessing this is still too young, with such heavy fruit. Can't wait to try more of this.
Note: The cuvee came with analysis values, which showed good TA and pH for a red. Alcohol was in the low 13's and it was surprisingly dry (0.8 g/l if I recall) - could be fruit sweetness that I was tasting. The spritz mentioned is a common feature of the wines because they finish fermentation in bottle. The grapes used are mainly Croatina, Uva Rara, and Vespolina (also known as Oltrepò ughetta). Italy's OG natty winemaker, making wines from a single cru (monopole?). — 8 years ago
Domaine Ponsot
Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir 1985
1985 Domaine Ponsot Griotte-Chambertin Vielles Vignes. Dinner at Rep w DS, A&L S, McC. Amazing. Clove, leather, dark berries, mineral. Absolutely amazing. Did not decant. — 7 years ago
Caillez-Lemaire
Eclats Brut Damery Champagne Blend
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.
This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."
We're revisiting some producer bottles from our late Spring France vacation earlier this year.
Awesome bottle, so mineral driven, toasted brioche spread with quince jam.
Photos of C-L champagne bottles resting with their temporary closures, resting 750's of their Cuvée Jadis rose and our bottle of the evening. — 7 years ago
Château Vannières
Bandol Mourvedre Blend 1985
Brun clair
Nez très ferme et cartonné et s ouvre sur des note de cendre feuille morte
La bouche fraîche pleine et précise devient très agréable par des note de guarrigue et goudronnée avec une certaine qu Rosine
Un peu trop simple et poussiéreux en finale mais vin qui a de l âme
— 7 years ago
L. A. S. Vino
CBDB Chenin Blanc 2016
Nutty and sweet straw - impressive — 7 years ago
Château Potensac
Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 1997
I’ve had at least two cases of the 97 over the last eight years or more. Our friends Jeff & Hedy brought this bottle of 97 to dinner tonight. It’s the best bottle of this wine I’ve had. We drank our last bottle roughly two years ago. The wine continues to improve. Tonight it’s so lush, ruby, elegant with blue & dark & mid red fruits. Great balance of fruit & earth. So beautiful & easy to drink. The 97 vintage was one no one wanted to buy as it was critically panned. I have said this many times, “in every difficult vintage, there are always producers that make good wine.” In the case of the Potensac, it took 15+ years to fully spread its wings and it continues to improve with another 10 years left ahead. No critic would have told you in 98 & 99 when the initial reviews came out to buy this wine. Potensac is made by the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases. Always follow good producers, even in difficult years. K&L bought 5,000 cases of this wine 10+ years after the fact. They are Masters in Bordeaux wines for this kind of value. Clyde took the shipments in two blocks of 2500 cases and sold through them in about a year or less at $24.99 a bottle. It remains the bargain of a lifetime! @Shay A This is the wine you want to buy to keep you from opening your 09’s & 10’s too early. So delicious tonight!!! Photos of; Potensac, concrete tanks, fruit near harvest and their barrel room. — 7 years ago
Williams Selyem
Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir 1999
Dawn of a new era at W-S but same-old at Hirsch. This is starting to get towards the end of it's prime drinking window but tonight it was lovely and had sweet, ripe-but-not-overripe candies fruit notes but no cola/pomegranate thankfully, and the zingy acidity balanced out the fruit well, which is classic Hirsch to me. Was in SF for a conference and picked this up at K&L for dinner with friends — 8 years ago
R. & L. Legras
Cuvée Présidence VV Champagne 2002
From Mag. Mature... a hint of apple and sherry but not too much. On the palate broad and slightly lush with settled acidity and decent length. Given this is s mag, it's probably worth checking in on these as their time may soon be up, but for drinking right now- very good — 8 years ago
Domaine Gramenon
A. Pascal S. Côtes du Rhône Grenache 2011
Pourpre a reflet noir
Nez apres une longue aeration car reduit
Fruit noire tapenade et thym
Bouche gaz au début ample et dense sur les fruits noire et l olive noire et thym voir eucalyptus
Milieu ample avec de la densité et de la fraicheur et pourtant tres dense
Finale longue sur des notes amers tel que la tapenade et finale sans bois sur le thym très très long
Pas en élégance mais enCore sur la puissance mais une des plus belle bouteille de gramenon — 8 years ago
Charlie Evans
This was part of one of the more incredible things I’ve been apart of doing my job. A Bollinger R.D. Master Class with the chef de cave of the winery. Strictly Bolly R.D. designed to show the intricacies of champagne. Two ‘96 vintages, one disgorged 6 months prior, another disgorged 6 years prior. 3 different 2002 vintage R.D.’s with 3 different dosages, 2 of which were made specially for this class. One zero dosage, one at 3 g/l, and another at 8 g/l. 2004 vintage poured 15 mins apart to showcase how the wine shows differently when exposed to just a bit of air. Finally another 2004 bottled in magnum to show how the bottle size can affect the wine. A truly eye opening experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just stellar. — 7 years ago