Middle Earth

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 1983

Robert Cunningham
9.6

Sublime. Earth and truffles. Classic Chave. — 7 years ago

Keith and Ira liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1996

Incredible. Jaboulet family apparently inconsistent in final years of ownership, but this one had everything. So dense still, with lots of kalamata olive, olive brine, cherry, blackberry, black pepper, leather, cured meat, earth. Savory, sweet, powerful, elegant, hit every end of the taste spectrum. Super long. In magnum — 8 years ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2003

One of, if not my favorite, rioja producers. Fruit on the 03 is a bit crisper than other vintages. Cranberry, tomato (leaf?), deftly deliberate oxidation, earth and savory balsamic, all framed in lovely oak. Fine integrated tannin. Long savory finish — 10 years ago

MICHAEL liked this

Domaine Serene

Evenstad Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010

Very old world style Pinot. Lots of fruit and earth. Extremely complex yet soft and easy to drink. — 11 years ago

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2007

Fantastic. Smooth, elegant and classic. Rioja like it should be, with nose of pepper, sour cherry and pepper finish. Start is leather and earth. A great wine. — 7 years ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 1982

Alder Yarrow
9.4

Cloudy ruby, this wine smells of earth and cedar and dried red fruits. In the mouth, dried flowers and forest floor mix with river-mud-tannins and a bright juicy acidity. Tasted out of magnum. — 9 years ago

John, Anthony and 15 others liked this
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

Just tasted a few vintages of this. Very nice. Love the whites too.

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2004

Awesome! Everything I love about VT and CDP. Earth and fruit in perfect balance. — 10 years ago

Anthony, Sasha and 1 other liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2002

A softened ruby color. Beautiful balance, everything in harmony. Wet earth, raspberry, cinnamon, a whiff of truffle, intoxicating nose. So much ripe, fresh red fruit on the palate. Such soft tannins, damson plum, a mineral streak running through. Drinking a 15 year old wine for 15th anniversary of diabetes. This is splendid in the moment — 8 years ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2005

2005- a wine that's just moved into its older age. Dark fruits, dried fruits also, shellac, vanilla bourbon and damp earth. Beautifully integration on the palate, in a good place now. — 9 years ago

Anthony liked this

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 1988

An earth driven nose with overtones of garrigue. This wine was terroir driven vs fruit driven. Compared to the other vintages I found this wine benefited the least from air. — 10 years ago