Macdonald

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

9.9

Old vine 100% Cabernet does not get any better than this! Gorgeous front to back, this needs a day to get into the zone per Graeme so be patient and oown the day before if a younger vintage. This is liquid purity and perfection. — 3 months ago

Deborah, Daniel P. and 1 other liked this

Robert Mondavi Winery

The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Stephen Osgood

9.5

pure Napa joy. This has some legendary MacDonald To Kalon fruit in it (5-20%). — 2 years ago

Arden, Billy and 5 others liked this

Detert Family Vineyards

Oakville Cabernet Franc 2004

Rob Brobst III

9.7

Oakville proper. Bang next to Macdonald..... — 3 years ago

Rob, Dawn and 32 others liked this

Rob Brobst III

@Shay A @Eric S yes my bad. Tom not Bob. This is what happens when you drink a whole bottle of your wine by yourself. You forget their names ha ha LOL

Eric

@Rob Brobst III lol and I will take you up on that. My email is shankserc@gmail.com. No rush.

David L

Soooo want too

Bevan Cellars

Tench Vineyard EE Red Blend 2015

Shay A

9.5

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

When tasting next to the MacDonald, it was incredible how much more ripe fruit was present here. I mean, straight up oozing blackberries and blueberries. I pondered if there could even be Malbec in this based on how inky and juicy it was at the core. I went back and forth between calling this Australian Cabernet or Howell Mountain Zinfandel. There was Andes mint and fig with a rich finish. I had the ‘16 during my visit earlier this year and found it to have a touch more savory notes. — 4 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Sharon, Bill and 33 others liked this

Blankiet Estate

Paradise Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Tom Garland

9.3

Blankiet Estate tasting...wonderful restrained Napa style wines... Graeme Macdonald (Macdonald vineyards) winemaker since 2016. Julian was a knowledgeable terrific host.

2019 prince of heart rose
2019 prince of heart red wine
2016 Rive Droite Merlot blend
2015 proprietary red cab blend
2018 Mythicvs cab sauvignon
2014 Rive Droite merlot blend
Prince of Hearts port wine#7
Prince of Hearts port wine #5 — a year ago

with Brenda

Brenda, Shay and 16 others liked this

Shay A

Was told last year when I tried to schedule a visit they charge everyone an “experience” fee, which is non-refundable, and is charged regardless of how much wine is purchased…I passed. Too bad, I enjoy their wines.

Tom Garland

@Shay A I have more recently been selecting wineries offering food&wine combo pairings for visits, so not expecting a refund.....though, this one was basically just a tasting (included a small meat/cheese plate) and yes there was no tasting fee discount for the wines I purchased.

Realm Cellars

Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Shay A

9.6

A few wines from last week’s 4th Friday event!

The sheer opulence of this is astounding. Obviously young, this was actually my first Realm BTK courtesy of @Keith Fisher . When thinking back to the last stunning 2016 BTK I had (MacDonald), where the MacDonald is more dusty, slightly more herbal and full of tightly coiled BTK power, this was an embarrassment of rich dark fruits, baking spices and sporting a creme de cassis like profile. Classic To Kalon power, with so much to unpack. Thank you, Keith! — 3 years ago

Ted, Severn and 46 others liked this

Shay A

@Bryan Kesting : It was, but it was so much more flavor packed at pop and pour than I expected. If you’ve got multiple, open one to enjoy as an experiment. But if you’ve only got one, definitely hold for at least 5yrs.

Joshua Fisher

How was your napa valley trip?

Shay A

@Joshua Fisher : It was fantastic! Wonderful stops and great weather. I’ll be popping the Brasswood chard you gave me tomorrow night for a monthly wine group I’m in. Theme is Chardonnay.

Vision Cellars

Pinot Noir 2018

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 2 years ago

Nicole, Ira and 5 others liked this

Eric

Looks like I need to get one of these to try!

Boyle Macdonald

Calaveras County Sangiovese Bianco 2019

Jason and Jennie

9.2

This is the sangiovese bianco white wine. Citrus, pear. Very refreshing. — 2 years ago

Eric, Ely and 14 others liked this

Talisker

Talisker Dark Storm Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

Bob McDonald

9.5

Smoky Peaty and spirity aromas Also Iodine and Briny notes showing its maritime location. A single malt matured in charred oak casks. There is some conjecture as to whether Talisker is classified as Island or Islay but suffice to say it is the only Distillery on the Isle of Skye. Had a tour of Talisker many years ago after going to the HQ of the MacDonald Clan on Skye. I bought this 1 Litre bottle at Gatwick Airport about 2 months ago before we headed up to Inverness and the Highlands. — 3 years ago

Paul, Sylvain and 10 others liked this

Weingut Nik Weis

St. Urbans-Hof Saar Riesling 2016

Tom Inners

9.0

Popped this after a recent discussion with @Ian Macdonald comparing notes on St. Urbans-Hof. A needed check in of the 2016 vintage in the Mosel as well. A daily drinking pick-up from my last trip to Bottle Barn (Santa Rosa, CA).
8.5% abv
A.P. = 3 529 290 14 17 — 5 years ago