Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous note from January 2022. Has lost its primary red fruited characters of raspberry and strawberry from its youth. More musky and earthy these days. From 72 year old Grenache vines in the Old McDonald vineyard in McLaren Vale. Steve Pannells winemaking touch still evident with excellent material - a great combination. — 3 years ago

S.R.Alexander

9.3

Black raspberry, grilled meat, wet earth and garrigue. The wine threw an eighth of an inch of sediment. A very chewy and thoroughly enjoyable CDP, much more interesting than the base wine. @Bob McDonald thanks inspiring the pull. — 4 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Petaluma Tiers - In my mind, a first-growth chard from down under.
I spat my pacifier out when the cork disintegrated, but I need not have been concerned.
The visual presentation is stunning - look at that golden color in the glass. The nose displays roasted almonds, nutmeg, toasted bread and white fruits.
Palate is regal, revealing poise, layers and complexity. The mouthfeel is dense, while notes of nuts, exotic fruits and oak are layered. The acidity provides a frame for the overall structure. The almost undetectable oxidation is to be expected, but that just adds to what is a stunning example.
@Bob McDonald, any backstories to share?
Pairing this with filet and porcini mushrooms (which I have never cooked) 😱 — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie, Eric and 2 others

TheSkip

9.3

With many thanks to @Bob McDonald whose palate I deeply respect. He pointed this out to me and I’m extremely glad he did!

Delightfully balanced. Long legs in the glass and lithe on the palate. Extra points for outstanding QPR!! — 7 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.4

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.

This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."

We're revisiting some producer bottles from our late Spring France vacation earlier this year.

Nose of sweet grass, wet minerals, apricot skin, spring rain on flowers and ripe lemon. Palate has curious light, sweet citrus notes, tropical yellow fruits, this bottle is alive!

Photos of Jean Jacques thieving the 2017 Puligny-Montrachet out for us to sample, the modest sign indicating you've arrived at the most interesting biodynamic place in Saint Aubin and our bottle of the evening.

24hr Update: Sweet, fermented tropical fruit. Honestly I believe this will be even better in another day. — 7 years ago

Michele McCormick

9.5

Bright and lightly fruity. Very smooth. — 7 years ago

Toby Treyer-Evans

9.2

@Bob McDonald what do you think of this? — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Smoky with brief notes from me. Not as peaty as you would expect from the western isles. Had a tour of this distillery some years ago on the Isle of Skye which is the spiritual home of the Clan Donald ie McDonald. Probably prefer the peaty styles of Lagavulin and Laphroig. — 3 years ago

Rob Brobst III

10

Bill Harlan told me one night that this was the wine that made him strive for perfection!!! I’m a believer... stunning and amazing... @Antonio Galloni @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Shay A @Warren Sapp @Terri Walker @Diane M. Napolitano @Mike Smith @Matt Sterr @Ian Blackburn @Shauna Summers @David L @leon egozi @Ron R @Scott Rowe @Bill Bender @Bob McDonald @Carl Fischer @Will Harahan @Doug Davidson @Dick Schinkel @Marc vanholst @Jason and Jennie @Brian Szluk — 4 years ago

Akshata Singh

9.7

My all time favourite — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Australian Christmas! 🎄🎁🦌🎅🤶⛄️❄️

After bringing this Rockford Black Barossa Sparkling Shiraz back from Australia and holding It for nearly two years as was recommended by their Winemaker, it’s finally ready for Christmas breakfast as is traditional in Australia. What a beauty she has turned out to be! Much softer and intergraded than it was in their tasting room.

It’s hard to find Sparkling Shiraz in the US, let alone a good one!!! This one is quite tasty.

It’s a beautiful sunny Christmas morning with Nat King Cole singing, “White Christmas” in the background.

The nose reveals; black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, mix dark berry liqueur notes, sweet tar, whiff of white and black pepper, saddle-wood, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender.

The body is full & rich. The fruits are beautifully ripe. The structure, tension, length and balance are finding their way but, will still benefit from a few years in the cellar. It also has a sound tannin structure, which is not found in champagnes and most sparkling wines. Black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, black cherry, plum, mix dark berry liqueur notes, whiff of white and black pepper, dark spice with some palate heat, saddle-wood, a leathery quality, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender. The acidity is round and well executed. The well polished finish is a nice balance of dark fruit & earthiness and is persistent for minutes.

Merry Christmas everyone!!! 🎄🎁🤶🎅🦌⛄️❄️🍾🍷🎶

@Bob McDonald Delicious!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! — 7 years ago

with James and Christina

Severn Goodwin

9.2

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.

This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."

Love this bottle, strawberry and citrus, so tasty! — 7 years ago

Will Rogers

9.1

Enjoyed at Ronald McDonald House. Purchased by my parents at Italian restaurant next door. — 8 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.9

@Antonio Galloni Thank you my friend… @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Shay A @Ron R @Ron Siegel @Ron Christiano @Bill Bender @Bob McDonald — 3 years ago

Akshata Singh

9.3

Velvety without being dry. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded by McDonald "Don" Blackburn, born in Virginia, studied and worked in Burgundy before returning to America. Production of this wine aimed primarily for the restaurant business, i recently found a bottle on a wine list for half price, wow what a steal. Aromas of sweet berry fruit with spiced notes. The palate shows developed ripe red fruit, oak, spice and mineral notes. Soft tannins, elegantly balanced, vivid acidity, lingering finish ending with mineral notes. Wow! — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

The Wine List at Labart consists of mainly Natural Wines made with little or no sulphur, no pesticides and using biodynamic principles. They would love this in Copenhagen where my daughter works! The wine had an ultra savoury barnyard nose with low acid and low Tannins. 90% Grenache 10% Carignan. These natural wines can be great with food but I doubt their cellaring potential. @Georgina McDonald — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.4

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.

This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."

We're revisiting some producer bottles from our late Spring France vacation earlier this year.

Nose of under-ripe tropical fruits, banana skin, light oak touch. Palate has yummy papaya, under-ripe peach, tangerine and sweet oak.

Photos of the Jadot (Update, Bouchard!) Chateau with its beautiful colored slate roof (to the left of the chateau its the conservatory where we had an epic lunch during our visit and they used to overwinter their citrus trees in here many, many years ago), pictures of the first room of the most amazing library cellar in all of Burgundy (the subsequent rooms are even more amazing) and our bottle of the evening.

24hr Update, sweet oak and fermented tropical fruits just stunning today, last bottle. ☹️

OMG Update: somehow I grabbed pics from our Bouchard visit, argh! The only Jadot thing in the collage is the bottle, so sorry! — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Bought in Niseko Hokkaido in late January 2018. My first purchase of a Japanese Malt Whisky and I was mightily impressed. No small claim from a McDonald who loves Talisker Laphroig and Lagavulin!!! Compared with the Hibiki I bought duty free this Ichiros Malt was more sooty and tarry but ever so smooth. Reminiscent of Drambuie. Orange Peel and damp straw. Big price difference unfortunately. About $100 in Niseko and about $200 to $250 in Australia. — 7 years ago

Michele McCormick

9.5

McDonald Mountain — 7 years ago