Merlot Blend
Orin Swift
Papillon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012
Oak, sawdust, coco nibs, tobacco, black currant and blackberries. This is rich, deep and dark. Mostly secondary and tertiary flavors at this point, not a ton of fruit left. — a month ago
Domaine du Pegau
Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2022
2022 vintage. Medium-heavy body. Needs time/patience but shows pretty well currently if you're out of either/both. 6.3.26. — 2 months ago
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia
Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Even after 16 years, this wine will last. Lush plum flavors, tobacco, mocha mixed with berries and leather. Has many years left. — 3 months ago
Ridge Vineyards
Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend
A superb Zinfandel blend that tastes great now and possesses the requisite structure to age. Ridge sets the standard in American winemaking. Their corpus of high quality wines is unmatched in America and challenges the entire industry worldwide. — a month ago
Château Musar
Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2000
2000 vintage. Ancient. Otherworldly. Eternal and undying. The ultimate vampire wine. $101 a bottle resto cost. Picked up a 6-pack and we’ll see how it does. You either get it or you don’t. 7.8.26. — a month ago
Snuck it into flights of three samples and then watched as whole glasses were ordered and minds widened.
Now…I’m taken aback at what these beauties command.
Château Rayas
Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2008
Rayas 08 exceeded my expectations — it was in great condition. We decanted it at 3 PM and started drinking at 7 PM. In the first phase, it showed sweet red fruit notes. In the second phase, herbal/vegetal notes emerged. In the third phase, a cooling mintiness appeared.
This bottle wasn't as explosively aromatic as the 07 I opened last time — that 07, after two hours of decanting, unleashed an incredibly rich and enchanting floral bouquet. It was like the scent of a garden transitioning from summer into autumn — grand and opulent, with a hint of fading beauty. Notes of black cherry, rose, and blood orange intertwined, and the aromas kept evolving over time — garrigue, incense — complex and alluring, with a grand structure and a rich, round palate.
The 08, on the other hand, feels more like a refined lady from a scholarly family — graceful, gentle, intellectual, with no aggressive edge. — a month ago
Ridge Vineyards
Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend
Ridge Three Valleys 2023
Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A classic Sonoma field blend composed of 71% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Crafted in Ridge’s signature transparent style, this vintage leans toward a riper and more fruit-driven expression than many of the winery’s other bottlings.
Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry preserves, ripe plum, black cherry, and raspberry compote dominate, supported by touches of black pepper and baking spice.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and a broad, generous texture. The fruit lingers across the palate with a warm, persistent finish.
Food Pairings
A natural companion for barbecue, smoked meats, burgers, and hearty pizza.
Verdict
While impeccably made, this is one of the few Ridge wines that didn’t quite resonate with my palate. It leans a bit too jammy and overripe for my preference, though lovers of rich, fruit-forward California reds will likely find plenty to enjoy.
Did You Know?
Ridge has long been one of California’s pioneers of ingredient transparency, listing the exact grape composition directly on the label.
🍷 Personal Pick
I truly love Ridge wines, but I’d still reach for Lytton Springs or Geyserville before this bottling. If bold, juicy Zinfandel blends are your style, however, this one could easily become a favorite. — 2 months ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989
This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush. — 3 months ago
Bollinger
Special Cuvée Brut Champagne
Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV – Champagne AOC, France 🇫🇷
Overview
One of Champagne’s enduring benchmarks, Special Cuvée combines approximately 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier, with a significant portion of reserve wines contributing depth and consistency. Rich, layered, and unmistakably Bollinger, it delivers remarkable complexity at a price point that remains accessible compared to many prestige bottlings.
Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, citrus zest, baked brioche, roasted nuts, and subtle spice unfold in layers. Notes of fresh bread dough and orchard fruit intertwine with hints of honey and toast.
Mouthfeel
Vibrant and energetic with a creamy mousse and impressive depth. A delicate kiss of yeast adds texture and contrast, while the wine’s concentration and freshness remain beautifully balanced through the finish.
Food Pairings
Lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, aged Comté, oysters, or simply enjoyed as a celebratory aperitif.
Verdict
A richly textured and multi-layered Champagne that continues to justify its reputation as one of the region’s benchmarks. Complex, expressive, and consistently rewarding, it offers a level of sophistication that punches well above its category.
Did You Know?
Unlike many large Champagne houses, Bollinger ferments a portion of its wines in old oak barrels and maintains an extensive reserve wine program, helping create the signature richness and depth that define Special Cuvée.
🍷 Personal Pick
Few non-vintage Champagnes deliver this combination of richness, complexity, and value. The layered fruit, subtle autolytic character, and vibrant texture make Special Cuvée one of my favorite benchmark Champagnes and a bottle I never hesitate to revisit. — 2 months ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
This is far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.
Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.
The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.
94-97 — a month ago
Château Margaux
Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Decanted for 4 hours and was floral with hints of spice. Smoothed out over the evening to lush flavors of plum, cherry, blackberry and blueberries. Finished with lite taste of tobacco and old leather. — 2 months ago
Château Palmer
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
Savory and game. Great rich and pure plummy fruit with a hint of spice on the nose. Inky and balanced with iron and graphite. Stunning and balanced — 2 months ago
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Clarksburg Chenin Blanc + Viognier Blend 2022
Our distinctive white blend marries the crisp honeyed citrus fruit of Chenin Blanc (80%) with the plush body, soft floral and juicy peach notes of Voignier (20%) for a lush, versatile and delicious wine. — 3 months ago
The Prisoner Wine Company
The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend 2021
Had at bite and third and main — 5 months ago
DE
At Clayton with a cigar big as the 96 — 22 days ago