Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Over the weekend I opened the 2019 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon Bordeaux Blend from Barboursville, Virginia. A blend of 62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, vanilla, spice, licorice and earth.

On the palate I find black cherry, blackberry, black plum, licorice, black currant, spice, herbaceous notes and dark rich earth.

This is a medium + to full bodied wine with medium + acidity and medium + fine grippy astringent tannins which leaves you with a long black fruit crushed stone finish. Spring has arrived this week, so try and have a great full week in anticipation of the coming greenery and foliage. Stay safe and healthy and please be kind to one another. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 2 years ago

Dawn E.

9.1

I have always enjoyed this luscious SB! Local store seems to be getting a steady supply. I have retrieved 16's 18's and now the 2019! Four to five yrs. age on this is amazing! Also fantastic tasting this 2019..so crisp and refreshing. Loads of lemon, white flowers, grass, spearmint, razor sharp acidity...the 14.1 alc. Is hiding in there!
Great job @Anthony Biagi 👍 — 4 years ago

Matt

9.1

Has a cool vintage personality to it, the acid is elevated and tannins are still firm albeit softening from the wines upbringing. Im a fan, there’s a lot of complexity on the nose, taking this classically-styled Rioja beyond what archetypal things might come to mind with this benchmark wine. Soulful and almost old school Bordeaux-like. Current, dried raspberry, stewed plum and dried black cherry, gravel pushing into graphite, tobacco, sous bois, wet leaves, juniper, leather, American oak, pipe smoke. Considerable freshness for such a tertiary wine. The elevated VA could be a problem for some, I enjoyed the lift. — 5 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.6

Taittinger's 2006 Comtes de Champagne Rosé is composed of 15% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay and it is a sensational showing. This fabulous Rosé opens up beautifully to pretty aromatics of strawberries and red berries which are laced with citrus zest, lovely minerality and subtle toast nuances. On the palate this shows a stunning combination of depth and energy and precision which defines this gorgeous Rosé as it leaves a beautiful impression on the palate. While the 2006 is utterly captivating now, it should also continue to evolve gracefully over the next decade. — 6 years ago

Peter Farrell

9.0

Peach and pear on the nose, but stereotypical Sauvignon Blanc dryness and acidity on the palate. Hints of grass and grapefruit, but not to the degree that some SBs go. Very very light straw lemon color. Overall, a great SB for these warm summer nights. Will be revisiting soon. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Weekly Wednesday Wine Committee and this was a special treat as not only was Weston from Montagu Wines in attendance, but Jason Moore, owner and winemaker for Modus Operandi Wines out of Napa. Blind format as always. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert.

Every part of me, and most everyone else in the room, called this New Zealand SB. Never had a SB with so much grass and jalapeño pepper on the nose. More grapefruit rind came in to play later and it had a typical SB finish with acidic/stone driven notes, but what a nose! — 7 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Blast of freshly mown grass… lime zest, wet stone, and lively acidity. Perfect quaff for quick tropical beach getaway.., shaking my head at all the high end cab being consumed on a warm evening in Anguilla on the beach. This wine reminds me how versatile Loire whites are. Perfect balance if not served too cold. — 2 years ago

Brian Ager

9.2

A wonderfully aromatic wine, with a nose full of fresh cut grass, grapefruit and lemon zest.  Continues with an expressive palate which has a lively but not overbearing acidity, and flavors of grapefruit, peach, and notes of river rocks. While I haven't found a NZ Sauvignon Blanc I didn't like, this one is definitely a cut above. It was a perfect pairing for a seasonal favorite, fresh ramp pasta! ($11) [4/18/21] — 4 years ago

William Paley

9.6

stewed cherry and a very present coffee bean opening. animal hide. fruit and grip folding in on itself. an hour in, cocoa notes, herbal highlights, fermented tea, an after-whiff of caramel which stays in the nose even when the palate dissipates...grass-fed butter, cola, burdock root, medicine. an extraordinary and unexpected ride. — 4 years ago

with Ron, Marisa and 1 other

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Having had the coveted 2005 vintage just a few months ago, ‘04 is far more open and rewarding today. So seductive and captivating. Smoked meats, black fruits, balsamic glaze and hints of roasted sage leaves and tobacco. The tannins are integrated beautifully and the finish shows wonderful finesse, elegance and length. Gorgeous now but will continue to improve over the next 8-10 years. — 5 years ago

Jean-Francois Brunelle

9.2

1994: The bottle was opened and not decanted, air removed after every glass and drunk over 6.5 hrs. It took about an hour for the funk to dissapear making place for very refined and elegant aromas of blueberries, stone dust, autumn leaves/forrest floor, and chocolate. The wine gained density with time and was beautiful all evening long. The bottle has been kept in very good conditions. For a Burgundy lover this is really lovely juice. — 6 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.5

Really fresh but deep forest floor, foraged mushrooms. Takes me back to late autumn shuffling through leaves in the pine barrens of LI. — 6 years ago

Ariel

9.0

Full bouquet, taste of fruit blackberry and aged oak with a noticeable amount of tannin and a loooong finish as it opened up. Going from tangy to spicy and leaves your mouth feeling like it went to sleep for a good 30 seconds. — 7 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

If you are in the mood for a NZ Sauvignon Blanc that’s not tooo New Zealand here ya go. I like this one. Passion fruit and tangerines. Peach and pebbles. And just a touch of grass and gooseberry to remind you this is NZ Sauvignon Blanc — 3 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.3

Medium ruby with a garnet rim. Blueberry, dark & red cherry, cigar & smoke, dried tea leaves, forest floor, sweet and sour (Chinese restaurant), spearmint, and a touch of allspice on the finish. Medium+ acidity with soft and fine tannins. 100% single vineyard Aghiorgitko sourced at high elevation of 1050 meters. 1000 cases. Great value overall. — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Nose has smoked roses, partially dried black cherry, dried cherry, dry autumn leaves and dried vanilla bean.
Palate has smoked cherries, smoked blackberry, fresh rose petals, dried Bing cherry, little to no tannins, mild acidity remains. Future bottles may be 2024+ in proper storage. Superb pairing to slowly (apple wood) smoked pork loin with a tight crust (thank you medium thick fat cap) and appreciable smoke penetration. — 5 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.0

Pale yellow hue. Aromas and flavors of lime, pineapple, passion fruit, cream, and mango. Refreshing finish with hints of grass and hay. Crisp, bright, and acidic. An exemplary Sauvignon blanc from Marlborough. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

A great 19 year old Left Bank red, from a great vintage. Shows a pretty ruby color with a wide brick rim.

Pronounced nose of blue and black fruits, earth, wet leaves, forest floor, smoke, tobacco, vinaigrette, cocoa and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry, spicy, earthy and gentle with still enough fruits.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (90 minutes).

Good by itself or with food. I would probably have preferred it 3 years ago.

Tasted it blind, and this time got it right 😊

12.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points. — 6 years ago

Dan Cobb

9.7

Tastes like you just found your dad’s stash of 70s porn, which reminded you that you like a little grass on the infield. Seriously folks: very approachable for a 14 Opus. Love the dark chocolate. Thanks BFR — 7 years ago

with KBM and Mike

Jake Hajer

9.1

Big aromatic nose of grass and grapefruit. Mellows on the palate, but still lean with Bosc pears. Great cali example of an old world style. — 7 years ago