Blankiet Estate

Paradise Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

9.4

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

You know you are living right when this wine is probably number five out of five reds on the table. Sounds like a slight, but with two old vintages of Insignia, older Masseto, and older Haut Brion, that’s stiff competition. Compared to those other four reds, there was more sweet fruit here. Dark fruit has softened to more of a black cherry medley, but the red fruit is still nicely tart and youthful. I picked up licorice and juicy blackberries here, both of which took me to South America for my guess. Not much herbal or secondary notes here...impressive fruit at 17yrs. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Ryan, Hermes and 34 others liked this

Mark Flesher

Tasted blind and out of a magnum vs the last experience of 5 months ago where this one was tasted from 750. This experience was definitely better and I would say two solid points higher than the February experience. 5th of five red wines in a blind lineup. However, I think if this one was poured out of a 750 it would have shown more age than the vintage suggested. Tasted very similar to the Phelps 01 Insignia out of 750. But those two could not compare to the 97 Insignia, 98 Haut Brion, and 97 Ornellaia Masseto. If served on a table of its own, no one would be disappointed or complain. But this was in a lineup of dynamite reds and was not in contention for the medal stand!

9.3

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

Shay A

9.6

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

In. The. Zone. The first of five mind blowing reds. This, to me, epitomizes first growth version of Bordeaux. In fact, I called this Napa royalty style first growth style. It is dusty and just starting to channel some herbal and leather notes, but the density and purity/softness of the fruit (still quite dark, hint of red fruit), scream older Napa Cab. Added notes of fig, leafy tobacco, and truffled dark cocoa. Wonderful! — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Ryan, Vanessa and 45 others liked this

Mark Flesher

Served blind as the first of five red wines. My guess was 15 year old Napa cab and the oldest red wine on the table. This was a 22 year old Napa cab, and was the oldest red wine on the table. Had all the classic aged blackberry notes, tobacco leaf in the middle with a hint of mint. I had the advantage of having a spotlight on my glass, which showed more sediment than any of the other reds. I guessed the producer to be Bond. Very classic expression of what I consider to be a true Napa Cabernet. Delicious. I preferred the second and third wines a little bit more, however those turned out to be a 1998 Chateau Haut Brion and 1997 Ornellaia Masseto......

9.6

James Cahill

The ‘97 Phelps was the wine that started it all for me. Holds a special place in my heart but had I never crossed its path, I would be on a normal retirement trajectory. I now need to add a decade to my retirement with all of that wine I drink💰

Shay A

@James Cahill : I have a feeling I am trending to the same sort of retirement trajectory 😂

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 2004

Shay A

9.6

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

What a total treat. My second glass of this was very different from the first glass. At first, I was getting a lot of honeyed tropical fruits with a good bit of yeast, but then it was more bright, and had caramelized Granny Smith apple notes and classic chalky limestone. This is right down the middle in terms of reductive vs oxidative. I wish I could have enjoyed this all on its own to give it the attention it deserved. I guessed this was ‘06 Le Mesnil. — 7 years ago

with Mark, joe and 1 other

Mark, P and 31 others liked this

Severn G

Too hot, you guys can keep TX.

Shay A

@Severn Goodwin : weather may be brutal, but Texas forever! As Davey Crockett says...😎

Mark Flesher

Served blind at a Friday wine function. Flirts between too young to drink and right in the wheelhouse. You know this is going to be a good day when this is served as the aperitif to a meal. Although this had plenty of brioche and oxidative style with a hint of citrus and pear, there was some green apple right on the other side, and a refreshing tart on the finish. Very powerful, yet never really seemed to give all that it had. I rather easily sucked down two glasses of this. I honestly think the 96 Vintage Krug outdid this by a little bit, but I think only because of 8 years of age difference. Want to give this a 97, but I will reserve that score for a couple of years from now.

9.6

Jacques Selosse

Substance Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

Keith Fisher

9.8

Always the most interesting champagne on the table and today was WOTN (IMO slightly edging out Dan’s ‘96 Marcassin Chardonnay). How do you balance lively and oxidative in champagne? I don’t know, but Selosse clearly does. Thanks Joe Leatherwood. Very generous as always. — 7 years ago

"Odedi" liked this

Heggies Vineyard

Riesling 2004

Peter Scudamore-Smith MW

9.2

Excellent mature Eden Valley riesling from the venerable S Smith & Son family company known in cuddly terms as Yalumba, based in Angaston for 165 years; pale gold wine; ultra dry; lime juice acidity; nose of burnt toast, brioche, leather, leatherwood honey. — 11 years ago

Stuart and Anthony liked this

Masseto

Toscana Merlot 1997

Shay A

9.7

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Insert expletive here. Wow. So beautifully bright and clean. Total balance. Dark ripe black cherries, dark chocolate dipped blackberries, and baked rhubarb tart. So much red and black fruit here! Definitely some fig, cherry cordial and truffle on the palate. It’s powerful without being overbearing. Tough call, but I ended up settling on early ‘00s Bordeaux. Is this the pinnacle of merlot? — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

joe, Ryan and 42 others liked this

Mark Flesher

Insane wine. Served blind between a 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia and a 1998 Chateau Haut Brion. This and the HB were my favorites. But, this wine, despite its solid Merlot backbone, was extremely similar to the 97 Phelps and HB. Dark, rich blackberry and black cherry on the nose and palate. But, this one develops a hint of dried cacao and black tea in the middle. Fig, mushroom, and dried red and black fruits. A little more brambly on the finish than the 97 Insignia or the 98 Haut Brion but this is what endeared it to the aged New York strip loin that it was served with. I think this one is right at the top of the hill, and about to head downward probably in the next few years. If you have these, consider yourself extremely lucky and fortunate, and start drinking them now.

9.8

Arden Barnett

Dream wine. What an amazing lineup!

Mark Flesher

We nearly tripped over ourselves. 🦄 wine!

Littorai

Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay 2002

Shay A

9.4

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

En mag. Blown away that this was a 17yr old chard. Incredibly powerful and youthful. It was more floral than most Cali chards, but it still had sea salt, rich mango and a dense mid palate full of juicy stone fruits with a very round finish. CHeintz vineyard Chardonnays are some of my favorites and I normally can identify them fairly easy but with its age, I didn’t get any of the bright and ripe guava I normally get from CHeintz. I still guessed this was Cali chard, but was shocked it was holding up this good with the age on it! — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Ryan, P and 27 others liked this

Mark Flesher

En Magnum, tasted blind as the wine to follow a 2004 Salon and 1996 Krug. Big shoes to fill, and I think it did perfectly. This was served with a scallop with lentils, and seem to pair well with the lentils. This one was getting crazy guesses such as a 2005 Kistler Cuvee Catherine, Peter Michael. I guessed this was a Guigal Condrieu as it was a bit delicate for a Chardonnay yet did not seem to back down from the challenge of food. Some tropical and dried herb and white flour and white pepper notes here. And definitely more on the medium-bodied side. Not a full bodied wine by any stretch of the imagination. I think if this one was served from a 750, there would be quite a bit more oxidized character to this wine. Instead, served from magnum, this one is beautiful, but I feel this was probably the perfect time to serve this. Let it be known that @Shay A missed the Heintz!!! 🙃

9.4

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Shay A

9.6

July 4th Friday was a total blowout! Killer bottles one after another. Here are just a few of the bottles we all enjoyed!

Such a treat to compare this against the ‘08 Schrader To Kalon and the ‘09 Chappellet Pritchard Hill. This was decidedly more dusty. Dark cocoa dusted dates, cassis, and black cherry compote over toasted graham crackers. This was decanted about an hour+ before we got to it and it was still powering through hours later. Thanks, @joe leatherwood . — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Jan, Bob and 43 others liked this

Hugh O'Riordan

Wow

Le Macchiole

Messorio Toscana Merlot 2012

Shay A

9.5

This is one of the best Italian wines I’ve had, and it’s coming on the heels of trying the ‘11 vintage of this a few months back. Lots of similarities. A more ripe/modern/New World style. Super ripe dark fruits, cocoa dusted dates, sweet pipe tobacco, and a powerfully tannic finish. Mid palate is dense and seductive with outrageous texture and flavor. This could be a monster in a few years. What a wine, @joe leatherwood ! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 3 others

Severn, Eric and 25 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

P2 Brut Champagne Blend 1998

Janice Leung Hayes

9.3

Complex and thoroughly enjoyable. Floral, a little ripe stonefruit, rich honey (reminiscent of leatherwood in water), hinting at cream but not quite. Very fine and sparse bubbles. Dark gold. (Bought in Hong Kong) — 9 years ago

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Shay A

9.6

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Out of the lineup of the five reds, this had the aromatics that kept me going back for more. Initially, it reminded me of an older Ridge Monte Bello as I thought I got the slight hint of American oak, but it dissipated, allowing the bright black cherry, sandalwood, and herbs to shine. Gained some power as the lunch went on. Pipe tobacco, bay leaf, dusty blackberries and leather. The fruit was still tart (in a good way), showing how impressive this can age. I guessed this was early ‘00s Bordeaux. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Ryan, Vanessa and 49 others liked this

Mark Flesher

Solid 97 for me. This one has this structure to go another 20 or so years easily. Served blind as the second of five red wines, between a 97 Phelps Insignia and a 97 Ornellaia Masseto. I guessed this was a 15 year old Napa Cabernet but I was definitely less sure about this one than the 97 Phelps. Guesses were all over the place with this one from the others. Sediment in the bottom of the glass. Had quite a bit of similar character to the 97 Phelps insignia on the nose with a hint of black cherry, blackberry, mushroom and dried herb. Yet, in the light, this had a deeper and darker crimson color with a very bright meniscus. On the palate, echoed all of the above also with a little bit of leather and pipe tobacco. Very powerful, full-bodied wine. This and the Ornellaia Masseto went the best with the New York strip loin without a doubt. Incredible wine. Cannot wait to try some slightly older vintages of this.

9.7

Dr. Owen Bargreen

Epic stuff my friend 🍷👌

Hugh O'Riordan

Epic for sure

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

Shay A

9.7

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

One of the best examples of champagne I’ve ever had. The moment I saw it in the glass, I was sold. Then I smelled it, and I was in love. Just absolutely mind boggling. I was between Jacques Selosse or older vintage Krug, and eventually felt very confident in my JSelosse guess. Supremely and beautifully oxidized. Sherry, candied ginger, honey drizzled stone fruits with orange marmalade covered scone. Nutty too. I can’t get enough of this style of champagne. — 7 years ago

with Mark, Dan and 1 other

Mark, joe and 43 others liked this

P A

@Shay A Cheers 🥂

Somm David T

Amazing vintage for them. A very special treat.

Mark Flesher

Served blind. This was the first of 8 wines. I guessed older Vintage Krug or Bollinger. I was thinking this might have been older vintage Bollinger given that it had a little more reductive style to it than I usually get with Krug (then again, this is my first 90s Krug). Everybody was definitely on this one, although I don't think there were too many votes for Krug specifically. Notes of brioche and a nutty character on the front. This was served with scallops and lentils, and I think that this one rounded out perfectly with the food and showed a different side that was definitely less jagged. I think this one is in the wheelhouse, and probably will be for the next 5 to 7 years.

9.7

Quilceda Creek

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Shay A

9.4

A splendid wine. QC flexing its incredible age-ability muscles with this 18yr old powerhouse. I had this about 6-7 months ago and this actually seemed better than the previous bottle. Youthful. A harmonious medley of blackberry, black cherry, plum accompanied by dark cocoa shavings and dates. The oak takes a back seat and compliments the fruit and secondary cedar/baking spice notes wonderfully. Great bottle, @joe leatherwood . — 7 years ago

with joe and Dan

Severn, Mark and 44 others liked this

Hugh O'Riordan

I love their wines. Get a case or so a year

Paul Hobbs

Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Shay A

9.5

Such a great expression of this vineyard. Tar, smoke, cassis, blackberries and roasted plum aromatics. I’ve always gotten a streak of mineral/graphite down the middle of the palate from LPV and this was no different. Gorgeous texture. This is very powerful, even at 9yrs, and needed every bit of the decanting it received...and probably an additional 1-2hrs extra. Just wonderful. Thanks for opening @joe leatherwood — 7 years ago