Little Black Stone

Domaine Leflaive

Les Pucelles Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2000

Straw gold color. Caressing aromatic nose of lemon curd, river stone, spices and a little apricot. Really good balance of structure, fruit and acidity in the mouth. Lasting finish. Textbook white burg. — 7 years ago

Severn, Eric and 7 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Ken Z
9.2

Tasted 1/20/2017 At UGCB 2014 Vintage tasting in Miami. At the Biltmore.

Mixed black and red fruits on the nose, with a firm palate of cassis, earth, and and some wood. Nose a little more subdued, and lacking some of the richness of the Beychevelle at this stage, but this seems built to age and will likeley develop with time.

3/22-23/9/4/4 + 50= 92-93 pts
— 8 years ago

Bill liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

When you have to travel on a Sunday, and that Sunday happens to be Mother's Day, you're not exactly psyched. This little oasis in the Delta Sky Club afforded me the opportunity to smile. Not a bad pour, regardless of the price. Typical Lynch-Bages cigar tobacco and leather with some luscious and velvety black fruit. Finished a little flat, most likely due to being open for a while in the fancy automated pour gizmo. But still smiling! — 8 years ago

David, Eric and 24 others liked this
Daryl Calhoun

Daryl Calhoun

Joe's wife NOT smiling due to him traveling on Mother's Day
Sharon B

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Nice little perk!

Flora Springs

Trilogy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Greg Ballington
9.3

Super deep and dark ruby red with an almost black core. Dark baking spices in the front of the nose followed by dark fruits, especially dark dark cherries. With some air there were some purple floral notes and more vanilla. Moderate tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Initially a little tight so we gave it a splash decant. Around an hour or so in, tons of cinnamon and other dark spices. Strong undertone of puréed dark berries and light herbs too. Long body but this needs a little more bottle age. Cannot wait to try it again at the release party next month. Drink till 2028. — 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Jeff, Kim and 13 others liked this
Greg Ballington

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@Shay Aldriedge Completely agree, the 14 isn't as good as the 13 which we thought had more complexity and roundness, the texture is crazy good on the 13. But the 14 definitely has potential to be another solid vintage
Ron R

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So @Shay Aldriedge @Greg Ballington, so you guys know, my very first visit to Napa, my first stop was FS tasting room. I was a lost, overwhelmed limey, and they made me feel at home - I'll never forget it. If they are back in the saddle, I'm onboard...
Shay A

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@Ron R : Give the '13 Trilogy a try. If you don't seem impressed, then we can chalk it up as a loss, but I think it's worth your time. If you have a hard time finding a bottle, let me know.

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Very nice nose of deep, dark fruit--plum, prune, blackberry. Taste is amazingly smooth. No pepper or spice, but a nice thick taste of black cherry and prune, with a long lasting aftertaste of caramel toffee. A very nice wine, but wish it had a little more spice. — 9 years ago

Jason liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Earthy wood and slight fruity aroma.
Refreshing on the palate. Black currant with a little spice.
— 11 years ago

Little Black Dress

California Pinot Noir 2010

Love the name and the taste! — 12 years ago

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1996

Classic, if a bit foursquare. Subtle meaty notes, slightly faded black fruit, hints of white pepper, a little soil. — 7 years ago

Shawn, Eric and 9 others liked this

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Somm David T
9.2

On the nose, stewed fruits of; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Mocha, chocolate, mixed berry cola, sweet spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, loamy mineral soils and dry dark florals. The mouthfeel is less concentrated than other vintages of Corison but that's indicative of the 10 Napa vintage generally. The tannins are nicely resolved with another 5-8 years before they are completely resolve. The fruits are; dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, blackberries with strawberries that dance around the rest of the fruit. There's nice barrel toast, vanilla, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, touch of wood shavings, liqueur notes, caramel, mocha chocolate, mix berry cola, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks, bramble, dry stems with nice soft round acidity. The finish is a little lean but tasty. Good balance of fruit and earth with long, rich elegance. Cathy slightly overachieved the 10 vintage as a whole. Photos of; her estate building, Cathy in her vineyard, grapes coming in at night (better to harvest when the fruit is cooler) and her estate vineyard in all it's glory. Producer notes and history...Cathy Corison grew up in Riverside, California. She studied biology at Pomona College and was on their men's diving team, because the school didn't have a women's team. In 1972, she had to take an extracurricular class. She signed up for a trampoline class, but changed her mind upon seeing a sign-up sheet for a wine tasting class. This class was the catalyst that sparked her interest in winemaking. After graduation in 1975, she moved to Napa Valley in California. She received her Master's degree in Enology from University of California, Davis. Upon moving to Napa, she started working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and at a wine shop. During this time, she was getting her Master's degree at the University of California, Davis. She was told by her professor that she would not get a job in Napa Valley because of being a woman. However, if she wasn't the first Napa Valley female Winemaker, she was certainly one of the first. She tried to get a job at Freemark Abbey and was denied because they believed she could not work in the cellar. She almost took a job at Christian Brothers in the enology lab. However, she decided not to take the job and in 1978 she became an intern at Freemark Abbey and eventually became their Winemaker. She joined Chappellet in 1983 and was their Winemaker for nearly ten years. She founded Corison Winery, in 1987. The winery is located in St. Helena, California in a barn built by her husband, William Martin. Corison makes Cabernet and Gewürztraminer. They produce about 3,500 cases a year depending on the vintage. The winery makes a Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos is an estate wine that is made from organic grapes. The vineyard is dry farmed. The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Cabernet comes from Rutherford. The Gewürztraminer is called Corazón and comes from the Anderson Valley. — 8 years ago

Eric, Trixie and 40 others liked this
Eric

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Checking this out later this month
Somm David T

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@Eric S Corison is a pleasant visit. They also do a nice harvest party on Sunday afternoon in September.
Severn Goodwin

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@David T Nice write up again David. I'm intrigued to find her connection with one of my favorite producers, FAW. I'll drink vintages crafted under her care with a renewed perspective. Thank you.

R. López de Heredia

Viña Cubillo Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2006

Dusty tawny with rim gradation. Elegant structure. Black pepper and cherries on the nose. Wood, leather, stone fruit. Faded tannins, astringent finish. Drink now. — 9 years ago

Alsu Shakirova
with Alsu
Alsu, Anthony and 2 others liked this

Saxum Vineyards

Heart Stone Vineyard Syrah Blend 2011

Big, meaty, hints of black olive, herbs, cherries...not too surprising as this is syrah, grenache, and mouvedre :) enjoyable, just a big wine. — 9 years ago

Theresa Johnson
with Theresa
Theresa, Eric and 6 others liked this

Little Black Dress

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Big fan. Good price. Great taste! — 10 years ago

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Drinking very well. Ripe black raspberries and dark chocolate on the palate. A little orange bitters on the finish. Delish! — 11 years ago

Cloud Break Wines

Black Cloud California Red Blend 2015

Chris really likes this. Pris thought it was just ok. A little bitter. — 8 years ago

Robert Biale Vineyards

Black Chicken Napa Valley Zinfandel 2014

Open. Cassis on nose. Dig and vanilla mostly back of the palate. Fat. Little more tannin would be a plus. But very little dark chocolate flavors and plum/prune. Good little expensive — 8 years ago

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Diamond Collection Black Label Claret California Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Smooth integrated fruit on day one today day two more Tannic more prune -cherry flavors and a little anise kick — 8 years ago

David, Shay and 9 others liked this
Rob Brobst III

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Nice pull. Decanted??
Rochelle

Rochelle

@Rob Brobst III it had its best flavor on day one I left the wine in the bottle and preserved it I wouldn't decant I have a little left we will see how that is today the wine really changes day to day I know wine does but this is so drastic it's interesting

J. Rochioli

Little Hill Pinot Noir 2005

Beautiful black cherry nose with deep translucent red color to the edge. Incredible fruit on entry and throughout the palate. Awesome wine with great finish! — 8 years ago

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Somm David T
9.0

Saturday night...time for steak and claret as my buddy Gary Westby says. In this scenario, I envisioned the wine being equal or even better than my steak. Not to toot my horn but most everyone that's had my steak simply says meaningfully that it is the best they've had. Myself, I've only had one better the Ribcap at Bourbon Steak in SF; which sadly closed as the hotel took back the space they were in. Hopefully, soon to reopen again elsewhere in SF. However, back to the Pichon Baron. I can't say I loved it. I wanted to love it as it is one of my favorite properties in Pauillac. The wine isn't bad but it just never shined. Maybe, it's just not a good moment in it's evolution to open. It's soft, elegant but missing the beauty, flavors and complexity I've come to expect. The fruits are dry blackberry, dark cherries, black raspberries, a touch of juicy strawberries and black plum skin. Dark dry powdery minerals, saddlewood, lead pencil savings, underbrush, dry dark earth, dry pebbles. There is not much on the mid palate, it finishes a little flat and the fruits never really shined. Surprising for such a warm vintage. Hoping it improves over the years as I've got 5 more. Unusual that the wine really needed the steak more than the steak needed the wine. — 9 years ago

Sofia, Griffin and 20 others liked this
Sofia Jalilie

Sofia Jalilie

I'd give the wine a higher score- it was balanced, smooth and finished nicely. I loved the pairing with the steak and potatoes we had- my husband does do a great job.
In the end if give it 9.4. It was one of the nicest wines I've had in a while
Alex Lallos

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F'in love this wine
Bill Bender

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Sweet Chateau pic @David Trumper

Little Black Dress

California Merlot 2011

I'm not always a fan of Merlot but this was delicious! Very smooth — 12 years ago