Magic Hour

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2016

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Red fruits on the nose with light oak, spices, earth, garrigue and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, black cherries, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth and black pepper.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 9 year old Grenache blend from Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Powerful, yet elegant. Fruity, rich and smooth.

Still feels very young, and more fruit forward than I expected it to be. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Spicy and entertaining.

This 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhône was exceptional. Will continue to age beautifully over the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$140.
— 7 months ago

Ted, Tom and 23 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Such a good producer.

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Simply superb bottle! Decanted for an hour and consumed over next two with beef stew — 8 months ago

Ted, Joel and 5 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

2007 vintage. From magnum and tasted 1.5 hours after being decanted. Herbal (but not mint) and woodsy nose. Medium body. Tons of thrusters at full power initially but the dark cherry, plum and baking chocolate notes were the only remaining flavors after the leap to hyperspace. That expected and (in)famous Latour power definitely in the picture but without any other stars in the cast to make this worthy of Oscar consideration. Not a top notch vintage, yet it seems like this effort is on a giant plateau and could remain there for a decade-easy. Likely would have benefited from an additional hour or two of air time but not enough to move the needle significantly…maybe to 9.3. — 3 years ago

Peter, Jan and 19 others liked this

Realm Cellars

The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

One hour decant and it was good to go — 7 years ago

Kimberly, Howard and 15 others liked this

Scarecrow

Monsieur Ètain Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Curtis had this 7 years ago

Shay, Eric and 18 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

Nose had some funk with leather, mineral and a hint of red liquorice. Evolved nicely with fruit coming out after an hour or so. Blackberry, blueberry were present after the earthy start. — 8 years ago

Saved Wines

Magic Maker California Grenache Rosé Blend 2015

Tangerine queen. Strawberries, peaches, lilies, lavender, watermelon, tangerine. Great with the smoked pork tacos I had tonight. — 9 years ago

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Strong berry rich cabernet sav. Aromatics of plum, vanilla, blackberry. Soft to tongue with long finish with just the amounts of spice and oaky. Pairs well with grilled steak. Tannins enhanced after letting it breathe for 30 min - 1 hour. Depth in flavor, great with hearty meal to compliment. — 10 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1984

Birth Year wine, so I'm a bit biased. Took about an hour to open up. Great cherry and floral notes. Wish I had another. — 11 years ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik
10

Magic stuff! Sublime and brilliantly balanced, with down-tuned aromatics, severe structure, luxury oak treatment and an expansive, fruity mid-palate. Long, rewarding and very promising on the still youthful and multi-layered finish. — 11 years ago

Anthony, Steve and 3 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes of black & red berries, truffles, loamy soil, worn leather, tobacco leaf, floral, herbaceous. Taste: soft, elegant, balanced, layered mouthfeel wine with blackberry, dark plum, leather, crushed granite, dried herbs, and a spiced cedar long finish with some dusty tannins. YUM! At the start of its drinking window with 20-30 years to go, so no rush. — 7 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Cassandra and 18 others liked this
Somm David T

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Nice!!!

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Steve and 20 others liked this
Somm David T

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Love this JP vintage!

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Dark fruit, needed to decant for about an hour to have it open up! Great tannins really at its peak in my opinion !!! — 7 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

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Damn
Shay A

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What @Eric Shanks said 👆🏼
James Forsyth

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Goodness! What a treat.

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Magic Monday — 8 years ago

April LoveJeff GriffinIsaac Pirolo
with April, Jeff and 1 other
Isaac, Greg and 14 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2005

Classic Rioja and right in the window for '04 904. Hour of air time at least. — 9 years ago

Myriad Cellars

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

.
9.1

Terrific nose. Needs an hour or so of air to fully unfold and show what it has to offer. Nice light touch of spice in the finish. — 10 years ago

Steve, Anthony and 11 others liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

Fantastic. Let it breathe for an hour. Drank w our two friends who own Manousakis Vineyard in Chania. Very special wine that is full bodied with soft tannins. Full of soft cherries and forest floor. It's the bomb — 10 years ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Medium lemon hue. Very very fresh. Zingy and delightful. Some nutty development already showing. Depth of citrus fruits, hints of bergamot. Green peach. Medium minus body. Good lingering finish. A classy wine. Leave 5 years+ before opening. NB: after an hour and a half, the wine has added weight, more concentration and a developed nose of almond, hazelnut and stone fruits - sweet apricot and some caramel. Delightful and moreish. — 11 years ago

Max liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

With a 2 hour decant (needs 3) the 2000 Lalanden has noticeable Petit Verdot and pales in comparison to its sibling the Baron in this vintage. Still a very good wine! — 7 months ago

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Two hour decant this 2000 Pichon Baron is exceptional! Very smooth glycerin like coating covering black and red cherries, leather, tobacco, olives and smoke simply outstanding. The finish could be a bit better though — 7 months ago

Ira, "Odedi" and 9 others liked this

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

2018 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 15 mins and one hour. Beautifully feminine and expressive nose leapt out of the decanter. Medium body. Nice balance of dark fruits and tannins but slightly disjointed. A bigg Napa vintage so either another decade or a three hour tour...er...decant would seem to be the ticket here. 01.31.25. — 9 months ago

Ron, Ted and 21 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Somm David T
9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 7 years ago

Shay, Sofia and 35 others liked this
P A

P A

@David T Great post Thanks Cheers 🍷
Somm David T

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Happy Sunday Phil. Thank you very much for your kind words. Stay warm up in BC!

Witching Hour

Reserve California Deep Red Blend 2014

Lori K
9.4

Great dark fruit with pepper. Nice blend. Low acid, great overall dark red. — 8 years ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2005

Off vintage but who cares? Tignanello is a personal favorite. Took a good hour to open up, this wine tastes surprisingly young. cherry, earthiness some mineral and a little smoke flavor as well. Very good — 8 years ago

Shay, Adam and 1 other liked this

Saxum Vineyards

Broken Stones Red Rhone Blend 2011

3-4 hour decant. Opened up nicely — 9 years ago

Eric, Brian and 11 others liked this
Mike R

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Howard you are killing it

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2002

Like the strange guy standing next to you at the bus stop wearing a leather jacket that just had a smoke. Softer on the palate than I expected with the leatheriness and spice being followed by a slight cherry. Fruit was only there for a second, dissipating due to the acid. Decanted for an hour. Softened up a bit, yet the darkness was still prevalent. Very enjoyable and one for the cellar. — 10 years ago

Gerald liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Raison on the nose. Well balanced. Could probably breath more than an hour or so — 10 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2010

Lara H
9.3

When I first opened it I wasn't that impressed and amazed at why people would spend so much on a bottle. After one hour, it was so herbacious and complex I think I dreamt in Italian for a week — 11 years ago