Darren Leaney

9.0

Coffee, beeswax, leatherwood honey. Zip. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

After an epic lunch from @joe leatherwood , a few of us got together for a socially-distanced evening hosted by @Keith Fisher to keep the party going.

The pic may be slightly blurry but the label is also blurry on its own!

I agree with @Eric LaMasters in that this one seems to need quite a bit of time to come around. These SQN whites are consistently mesmerizing in their complexity. Checking in at 38% roussanne, 31% petit manseng, 18% chardonnay, 9% viognier and 4% Muscat (what a blend!), it is deeply golden in the glass. Aromatically, it sports crazy dried dragon fruit, banana peel, caramel dipped grilled lemon and sea salt. Amazingly dense and rich on the palate, with a classically waxy profile. Savory popcorn kernel, almond skin, honeysuckle, and quite herbal round out a finish that has a surprising amount of acidity. Love the uniqueness. Thanks @Dan Fitzgerald . — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

The first of a monster lineup of 5 incredible red wines. For the first 10-15mins, this was actually my favorite. Very high toned and lifted. Bright. Rich red fruits, spicy black fruits, kirsch, sage and potpourri jump from the glass. On the palate, it was the most elegant of the five with Black Forest cake, mulberries, cedar, dark chocolate shavings and baking spices. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab (but it certainly seemed a bit of an outlier compared to the next 4!) — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

A socially distanced night catching up with friends while enjoying some fun wines. Posting what I was able to get pics of!

Served blind and decanted for about two hours. You could tell it was starting to shed some fruit as the oak tannin was fairly stiff, while accompanied by dark fruits but also a lot of floral and earthy notes. Fresh potpourri, lavender, ripe blue and black fruits, and a touch of fig to show its age. The ripe profile on the palate had me thinking 2007 vintage and the big structure meant it had to be from one of Napa’s mountain AVAs. There is a streak of graphite/mineral down the palate with added dark fruits, dark cocoa, and grilled plums. Integrated but very powerful at this stage. Thanks @joe leatherwood . — 4 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Shay A

9.3

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

A palate revitalizer after the reds! Like a shot of vitamin C to your taste buds. Apricot, ripe peach, and mango all drizzled in orange blossom honey. Didn’t have the nuttiness of Sauternes but there was really nice acidity here. I called this late harvest Cali SB/semillon. — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.6

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

Compared to the 2012 Quella it was next to, this was much darker in style. Scorched blue and black fruit, sandalwood, plums and mocha on the nose. Copious amounts of dark chocolate and fresh squeezed dark fruits on the palate wrapped in a silky and slightly dusty profile. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab. — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.4

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

I had this same vintage a little over a year ago and my note is very similar. I got a distinct hay note aromatically that I really haven’t come across much. It wasn’t herbal, but slightly more green and unique. Honeysuckle and honeyed stone fruits on the nose as well. Big and commanding on the palate and slightly more savory...lemon oil, sea salt and almond croissant. I called this 8-10yr old Cali chard. — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.6

After an epic lunch from @joe leatherwood , a few of us got together for a socially-distanced evening hosted by @Keith Fisher to keep the party going.

After the 2012 Harlan at lunch, Keith decided to continue with the theme with an ‘06. Unbelievably smooth and balanced while still retaining power. Aromatically it is very black fruit dominant...blackberries, cassis, sweet tar/pipe tobacco, graphite and channeling just a touch of bay leaf. Waves of flavor on the palate of smoked meat, creme de cassis, currant, mocha, baking spices and a supremely balanced finish. At this point in its evolution, it’s reminiscent of a high end bordeaux from a warm/ripe vintage. A total treat. — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.7

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

Here’s your finisher. Tied with the L&M for my favorite of the day. This seemed to take the best of the L&M (lifted profile, elegant) and the best of the Harlan (dense, rich, powerful) and marry them together perfectly. Iron fist in a velvet glove. It sported the entire fruit spectrum on the nose (red, blue and black) with added notes of sandalwood, espresso, cinnamon and nutmeg, and scorched earth. It pulls you in immediately on the palate with tantalizing notes of fondue dipped dark fruits, cherry-vanilla pipe tobacco, crushed gravel, before letting you go softly with elegant floral notes like jasmine. Stunning. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab. — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

I was somewhat surprised to see this was a Marcassin, mostly because it seemed more elegant than my normal experience. It didn’t have that roasted marshmallow note I seem to associate with Marcassin. This was my favorite of the two whites...extremely aromatic with chamomile, honeysuckle, powdered lemon tart and orange blossom. Massive amounts of juicy fruit (which I associate with Peter Michael) on the palate...frosted guava, sea salt and lemon meringue. I called this 8-10yr old Cali chard (specifically Peter Michael Point Rouge). — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others