Middle Earth

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2005

Hints of menthol and eucalyptus on the nose. Loads of anise and black tea flavors with portobello and grilled game. Fruit flavors taking a back seat to earth but wow, does it have life. Forrest floor and tobacco on the finish. — 9 years ago

JJ and Andrew liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2009

Steve Matthiasson
9.5

A classically done wine by a classic producer. This Morgon expression is more on the garden earth/mineral/floral spectrum than the fruit spectrum, which is fine by me. Dense and structured, was singing after an hour in the decanter. — 10 years ago

Ted, Thomas and 65 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

Drank for Sean's birthday. Drinking very well. Beautiful, velvety tannins and acidity. Leather, earth, mushroom, red fruits. — 10 years ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1985

Lacy and delicate with pronounced blueberry and raspberry tones. A little earth/funk/mustiness rounds this out. Would love to taste this in 10 years. — 11 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Education wine, awesome earth and acid. Still has time in the bottle — 9 years ago

Andrew Pienaar
with Andrew

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

Somm David T
9.2

The nose on this wine is stunning baring the alcohol heat. Perfumed red florals and candied dark and lighter red fruits. While the wine is truly elegant, the alcohol is seriously burning the back of my throat. The bottle reads 14.1 but I think over 15 degrees. Maybe, they wanted to save on the higher alcohol tax. The wine starts so beautifully only to burn the back of my throat. The fruits are ripe, elegant and beautifully soft. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, faint back palate of strawberries, sweet/soft leather, black licorice, violets & roses, rich delicate & sweet wet black earth, soft light baking spices, caramel, milk chocolate, figs & dates, amazingly sweet dark minerals, touch of black tar, touch of spice and a rich long elegant dark fruit liqueur finish. I would score this wine higher if it didn't punish my palate and throat with the burning alcohol finish. — 10 years ago

Eric, Paul and 14 others liked this
TheSkip

TheSkip

Great post and picture!!
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Thank you.

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Aristotelis Protopapas
9.5

Outstandgly balanced. Savory yet still fruit will appear in its most delicate dark ripe plum that has smashed against earth and let dry for few hours. The fact that is a magnum btl has benefit in its evolvement perfectly to one of my favorites ever! — 10 years ago

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

This is gorgeous. The cork disintegrated, and the bottom was black as tar. The nose is fruit and earth in that order, which was surprising. Decanted 30 minutes, which wasn't enough time for the vinegar notes to dissipate. Light color, which is slightly incongruous given the still pronounced fruits and tannins. Leather, cigar box, blackberries, oak on the finish. I was initially worried that we might have waited too long, but by the end of the bottle, I'm convinced there was no rush. This is exactly what a mature Pauillac should be. — 9 years ago

David liked this

Enderle & Moll

Liaison Pinot Noir 2013

Early nose was austere, even a bit severe, then giving way to sticks and leaves and wet earth - like walking through the woods early in the morning. Light to medium in body. Stones and mushrooms and earth and sweet red fruit - all you can want in a Pinot Noir. I really like this wine. — 10 years ago

Lyle and Chris liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

Faded fig compote, dusted cherry. Round mid palate with shallow inflection. Lovely herbaceous quality with hints of earth and black tar. — 10 years ago

Anthony, Yianni and 1 other liked this