Legacy In A Glass

Kongsgaard

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012

Shay A
9.4

@Benjamin Keator had his hosting at the CC tonight and it was absolutely incredible. What a night of gorgeous wines! All wines are guessed blind.

The third white in an insane flight of Chardonnays. I guessed all were Cali (they were), and guessed they are all 2012 (they were). I actually guessed this was either Kongsgaard or Jarvis Finch Hollow, so half right? Richly gold in the glass (Kongsgaard giveaway). Acidity was fairly high which was surprising. Honeyed fruit and honeycomb. Always unique and always fantastic.
— 7 years ago

Benjamin KeatorWeston EidsonDavid Schoonover
with Benjamin, Weston and 1 other
Somm, Kimberly and 39 others liked this
Martin Sher

Martin Sher

@Benjamin Keator @Shay A totally agree - Kongsgaard will be excellent now but if you can keep your hands off a few years you’ll reap greater rewards. Cheers to you on a stunning lineup!
Benjamin Keator

Benjamin Keator

I have a lot of Kongsgaard, particularly the 2012. This is the only vintage that needed 4 years in bottle and an hour full decant to reach its potential. Most Kongsgaard chards drink much better upon release. I actually think this vintage is going to surpass the 12 Judge. The typical Kongsgaard butterscotch and nuttiness is finally starting to show in the ‘12’s. The Kings Farm is what really impressed me last night. I thought it just about stole the show. Good thing I have 10 more bottles. But this is all just my opinion 😬
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Benjamin Keator : Didn’t even know the Kong’s Farm existed, and as you heard last night, it was most people’s’ favorite if the flight, but most people kept saying each wine was their favorite at different times throughout the meal...they were all incredible!

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Musigny Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2010

This may be badass in a glass but more than that it’s loads of class in the glass. It unfurled slowly and I don’t think it is in it’s optimum drinking window yet but it was delicious, refined and rich. Quite a treat @Martin G Rivard — 8 years ago

Bill, Rob and 37 others liked this
P A

P A

@Bill Bender Bill you guys are having a wonderful streak of great wines Cheers 🍷
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

@Phil A @Bill Bender I’m all about popping Epic Wines to encapsulate an evening! We will never Forget where we were and with whom we enjoyed the DRC RSV and Musigny!! Anytime we are with Bill is a time when a special bottle is required to be opened! Love you brother!

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Great musty earthy body with fruit coming alive after a few min in the glass. Was unfortunately not OK with being left in the glass for a few hours. — 9 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Ok my first log in I admit I'm a Novice. Had a glass so dont know what year but this was fabulous. Nice and dry, very smooth. — 10 years ago

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 1986

Still interesting. Light bricking ruby color. Thin in glass. Silky finish follows a muted nose. Past its prime as fruit has faded. But enjoyable nonetheless. — 10 years ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Still tightly coiled, giving its perfumed nose after 1.5hours in glass. Medium to full with a focus long cab fruit — 10 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1983

The wine was medium to dark garnet in colour. On day one it offered red fruit, cherry, balsamic vinegar, cola, leather, mushroom, earthy and vegetal notes and a wet sewer component on the nose. On the palate the the wine showed red fruit, cherry, blackberry, tobacco and earthy notes, the acidity was quite pronounced, the wine became slightly drying and even more acidic after some time in the glass, and the fruit faded a bit. Two days later, on day three, the medium-bodied wine was more balanced and showed red and dark fruit, some chocolate, some tobacco, spices and earthy notes on the nose, and red fruit, cherry, leather, tobacco, earthy and balsamic notes on the palate, with just a faint touch of greenness, paired with medium-plus well-integrated tannin, medium-plus acidity and very good length. I had almost written-off the wine on day one and then, surprisingly, it showed much better the third day. Holding-up well. 90 — 11 years ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1949

A treat. Dark in color, slightly cloudy. A powerful nose with dark, very mouton fruit. Incredibly aromatic, blackcurrant, mint,graphite, dried herbs, eucalyptus. The palate is extraordinary. So dense and powerful for a wine of almost 70 years. Dark fruit with a savory undertow- leather, thyme, sour cherry, dark chocolate. Really precise flavors and long. After an hour or two in glass there’s notes of coconut and soft wood. Extraordinary. Clearly there’s a lot of age on this but the sheer quality makes for a really dynamic wine. An exceptional bottle, and a teal treat. — 7 years ago

Howard HorwitzTony GarciaDavid Schachter
with Howard, Tony and 1 other
Eric, Daniel and 25 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Damn
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

What @Eric Shanks said 👆🏼
James Forsyth

James Forsyth Influencer Badge

Goodness! What a treat.

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2004

Light gold, nicely effervescent in the glass. Notes of lemon, chalk and a little toast. Creamy in the mouth. This is just getting started. — 8 years ago

Eric, Jason and 15 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1999

Very nice. Possible that some of the fruit is starting to fade. But with some time in the glass this still reveals a lot and of course finishes with very good acid and smooth, well integrated tannins. Very nice with a big grilled pork chop. — 9 years ago

Allison liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

B
10

1990 Chateau Cheval Blanc bordeaux. Bordeaux course during K charity wine dinner, alongside the '90 Rothschild. Another tough comp! We decanted both wines for just over an hour by the time it was served. Both wines opened up a lot more while sitting in the glass. This wine had a complexity, which was slightly more intriguing to me. Ripe red fruit and currant on the front, earth, leather, and super soft tannins. I really loved this wine, though the table was split on their preferences. Note to perhaps consider decanting this wine for slightly longer next time? — 9 years ago

Mr.Pink and Borislav liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2013

"I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon"... I can see why Nicolas Alexandre Marquis de Segur said these iconic words after having this wine in my glass. The nose is so inviting with warm spice, cigar smoke, embers, and toast. Raspberry syrup, plums, vanilla, and toffee on the palate. Nice thread of smoke throughout with nice balancing fresh fruit. What an enjoyable wine! 20 months in new oak - obviously the more accessible style the new owners are going for... the Pinot the other night gave an experience, this one tells a story. — 9 years ago

Ron, David and 5 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2002

Class in a glass. Very fine and creamy texture. Rich nose, like breathing in a slice of lemon meringue pie. Drinks a bit like a fizzy grand cru burg. — 10 years ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Deep rich colour in the glass, plum and vanilla on the nose. A bit closed initially, however opened up nicely after a hour. Then very smooth with dark fruit, coffee and a hint of charcoal. Super long finish ! — 11 years ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1991

Fab 27yr Old Rioja @ £62 drinking like a Burgundy & perfect in a Zalto Burg glass

🏵 92 points

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brown hue

👃 Leather & balsamic infused mulched spiced cherry w/ soft smoked oak, sherry, wet earth, cocoa, red berry, herbs & gooey date jam

👄 Med smooth, touch tart, red cherry & berry bathed in balsamic w/ a mocha touch

🎯 Med+ touch dry oaky driven red cherry & berry fruits w/ an earthy balsamic caramel figgy linger
— 8 years ago

Chris, Ted and 30 others liked this
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Great $ for that bottle.
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

...Or great £ rather.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

Delectable Wine
9.8

The 1978 La Mission Haut-Brion is a candidate for the greatest Bordeaux wines produced during the 1970s. Without question, it is the highlight of the vintage. I have tasted it several times over the years and each time, my appreciation is heightened further. Still youthful in appearance, the bouquet soars from the glass with almost high-toned blackberry, cigar humidor, warm gravel and that signature trait of black olive. You could nose this all day. The palate is medium-bodied yet there is much more density than you will find on other 1978s. Notes of black fruit, bay leaf, graphite and earthy tones, the latter emphasized with aeration. Decanting is strongly advised because it responds to a long opening, deepening all the time, developing a sustained cedar tincture that lingers in the mouth. It is a fabulous La Mission Haut-Brion that at 40-years continues to give so much pleasure. Tasted at a private dinner in London (ex-château bottle). (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 8 years ago

Raymond and Severn liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1990

Drank this to celebrate my birthday. A celebration in a glass! Thrilling aromas of poached pear, toasted brioche, and citrus. Rich, long, and dry with just a hint of hazelnut oxidation creeping in. More please! — 9 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2014

The beauty of great producers in great regions is how the wines wear the vintages & tell the story of that place & time. 2014's story & soul lie transparently in the texture. High toned, fresh red fruit with an acidic core which seems to brighten the wine as it breathes. The aromatics are never far from the palate here, as that is where the power lies. Undeniable floral & strawberry perfume overtake the senses as the glass is raised. Call me crazy, but this was a star alongside chicken Marsala. White in the sauce, red in the glass. — 9 years ago

Ron, Eric and 59 others liked this
Anthony Lombardi

Anthony Lombardi

@Andrew Schirmer @Jim Wagonfeld - let me know where & when, but give me a little notice in advance.
Andrew Schirmer

Andrew Schirmer

@Anthony Lombardi sounds like a plan. We will be in touch.

Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

2003 vintage. From Jay. Very nice. Much better than expected. Goes down all together way too easily when you're surrounded by snow! Deep ruby core washing out towards the edges. No bricking...yet. Nose is a preponderance of dark fruits together with blueberries and ripe cassis with slight under tones of cloves and a hint of graphite. This is a very fruity affair- takes me back to Christmas. The wine expresses on the palate as it does on the nose. Layers of rich fruit with traces of brown spice. There's a lovely sweetness here that makes the wine a pleasure to drink despite the relatively modest acidity. The tannins are soft and lush. The finish is good with a continued preponderance of fruit right to the very end although it is moderate in length. This is a very quaff able wine...could be at this all night with pleasure just sit me down in front of an open fire and hand me a Montecristo! 92+/100. Drink now to 2028. NB - no need to decant. This wine can happily be poured from bottle post opening and allowed to open in the glass. — 10 years ago

Jacques Selosse

Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

It got better as the night progressed, always a sign of amazing champagne. Left it in the glass and as it opened up and got down to room temperature it got better and better. — 11 years ago

Ilida Alvarez
with Ilida
Gary and Dick liked this