Magic Hour

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2011

Is there a better wine for roast chicken than Loire cabernet franc? Rhetorical question, of course. 2011 so tight, even after two hour decant. It slowly unveils its charms, like Jo Fiennes unwinds Gwen Paltrow in the otherwise forgettable "Shakespeare in Love". Unlike that film, this has staying power. Stash away a case, it will develop beautifully over the next three decades. — 9 years ago

Alsu Shakirova
with Alsu
Trixie 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. — 10 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. — 10 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2004

Needs two hour decant. Muted nose and higher acidity until it opened. Pretty cab blend with higher tartness at the finish. Unfortunately this was the weakest among a very strong line up last night. — 10 years ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2002

Twelve years in and this wine is so damn perky. Let me get back to you in another hour. Maybe it will be a tad less exuberant and a bit more relaxed. No matter what happens it's still gonna be delicious. These folks are so delightfully reliable. 13.0 abv — 11 years ago

Tony and Anthony liked this

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Sam Coturri
9.5

That perfect balance between bright red fruit and dark aromatic herbs. Ready to drink now (after being open for an hour or so) — 12 years ago

Anthony, Matthew and 1 other liked this

Witching Hour

California Red Blend 2015

Wow. Very good blend. It doesn't say on the bottle but from the taste and location I'll guess Cabernet, Merlot, And Zin?

Heavy blueberry and cherry on the palate to begin...Very vanilla heavy on the nose. Great wine, and great for the price.
— 9 years ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1995

Lost some of the fruit. Got better after an hour with food. — 9 years ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1988

A bit out of my league, but incredible. Funk, ash, herbs de Provence, licorice. Opened slowly, as expected. Pure velvet after an hour. Probably the only opportunity I'll have to try this. — 10 years ago

David, Chris and 3 others liked this
Ellen Clifford

Ellen Clifford Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Wow!! What was the occasion/or who was opening for you? I've tasted a 1983 Pauillac and ever since wanted to taste more old Bordeaux...
Dan White

Dan White

@Ellen Clifford No special occasion, just enjoying with friends. My friends parents have a big stockpile in their basement of random old(er) wines. We usually just go searching and try new stuff. Pretty rad! :)

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2011

Took about an hour to open up but eventually opened up nicely. Sour Cherries, roses, raspberries. Still young with persistent tannins on the finish. Give it a couple more years. — 10 years ago

Jim liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1992

Great cedar and cassis nose with a matching palate. Persistent without being boring. Earthiness coming out after an hour to balance chocolate covered berries. — 10 years ago

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay

2009. Shy! Cream to drink, iodine to smell. Became more expressive after about an hour in the decanter. Very pretty, without angles but not quite round either. Curious. Cull&Pistol in Chelsea Mkt — 11 years ago

Edward and Gabriel liked this
Gabriel Cabezas

Gabriel Cabezas

this went with the scallop looking thing on IG??

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. — 9 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Brought out the good stuff for V-Day. Aerated and decanted this bottle of beast for over an hour. Intensely rich fruit, rounded out by tannins that have clearly softened given the age of this wine. So rare to experience a bottle of this magnitude. The first few sips have been absolute heaven, and the balance will surely get better. — 9 years ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Ryan Carey
9.2

5 hour decant. Dark dark fruit. Blackberry and a nutty (almond and pistachio?) finish. Still ridiculously tannic. Strong acid right now. Wouldn't open another 06 for many years. — 10 years ago

Eric, Pazzu and 41 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Yes...Anthony makes wines for your children to inherit. 😜

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

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Pours clean dark purple into the glass showing no age. I'll be damned if one couldn't enjoy the dark fruit aroma from 5 feet away. Wow. Dark fruit, leather and pleasant oak quality supplemented with a silky tannic structure that gave a 60 sec finish. Not the most complex Latour I've enjoyed at this point but this bottle actually tightened up over an hour after opening indicating much life ahead. Sheeeit! — 11 years ago

Anthony and Lundmark liked this

Scarecrow

Monsieur Ètain Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

V M
9.1

Opened nicely after hour but needs more time for the tannins to soften a bit. Raspberries on the nose but Less forward fruit and more nuance. This shows flavors of berry and plum with strong notes of balsam wood and hints of chocolate and spice. This has potential to get better in a couple years but delicious now just decant for at least an hour — 13 years ago

G and Brian liked this
G G

G G

By the way thanks for the recs on myriad, mathiason and bevan!
V M

V M

That's awesome congrats! No prob on the recs. Parker released his napa scores yesterday and bevan got their first 100 pointer. Feels like they could be the next SQN
G G

G G

Got that e-m, it must be an incredible feeling to achieve that! It will be fun to continue to taste and I will have to put a tasting dinner together for that comparison... Getting any sleep?