Mitre Rocks
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2002
1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A dazzling dark ruby red color with some bricking. On the nose: bursting from the glass are dark plum, toast, stewed meat, graphite, and a sweet minty chocolate. Taste: a elegant, smooth, medium weight wine with plum, currants, tea, crushed rocks, earthy....velvety mostly resolved tannins coat the mouth with a chocolate tobacco long dry finish. — 5 years ago
Hope & Grace
Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
I kid you not, Charles Hendricks is likely the most underrated & under known Winemaker in Napa Valley.
If you have not had his wines, you are missing out on great wines & relative real value for Napa. He makes his own private higher end label-Hendricks, Hope & Grace and midway through the 14 vintage for; James Cole, Regusci & T-Vine.
There are few Winemakers that can make wines that drink well young & some that will age two decades plus stored correctly.
This Santa Lucia Doctor’s Vineyard is really good but, his private label Hendricks Pinot from Santa Lucia is off the charts. His 2008 Hendricks Pinot Noir is the highest rating I have ever given a Ca Pinot Noir, 98.
The 13 Doctor’s Vineyard is better than his 12 & is still a little early right now. It will improve over the next 5 years & hold there a couple of years before its gentle decline.
The nose reveals, ripe, well extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with shades of blueberries. Dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, touch of savory meats, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender.
The body is full, rich, lush and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting their good phase. It is simply a beautiful & complex Pinot Noir. Nicely extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with more blueberries than the nose. Dark spices that bring palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, touch of savory meats, peppery notes, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender. The acidity is very good & excellent at containing the slightly higher ABV. The long, complex finish is, well balanced fruit & earth, polished and will persist until dawn.
Photos of; Their Doctor’s Vineyard, one of my favorite paintings that used to hang behind the bar in their tasting room & now hangs in Charles’ house (it reminds me of a Jackson Pollock), Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and the front of their tasting room in downtown Yountville.
— 5 years ago
Château Pontet-Canet
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.
The fruits are ripe, ruby. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries & strawberries. Dark rich soils, dark spice, crushed dry rocks, black licorice, tobacco, soft leather, graphite, Great balance fruit and earth. The body is velvety and statin. The structure, length, tension and balance are just coming around. The texture is gorgeous. The acidity is round and excellent. The finish delicious and persists nicely.
Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago
Château Cos d'Estournel
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1999
For a 20 year old St Estephe this Cos d’Estournel is sublime. Perfectly aged but shows a lot of youth throughout the hour opening with red fruit mixed in with leather and chalk. A good 35 sec finish. A classic Bordeaux that rocks! Kept from my Phd days ( Rodolphe this is the last one buddy) is surprisingly vibrant. happy birthday 🥳 Philippa. — 6 years ago
Château Roc de Cambes
Côtes de Bourg Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
Wow totally surprised by this wine. As a random purchase at $40, this definitely out kicked the coverage. The aromas are so inviting....perfumed floral, mint, and earth.
BlackBerry, black cherry, pomegranate, and crushed rocks on the palate.
Decanted for 60 minutes.
This is still very young and has a decade or so to go. If this was a St. Emillion it would be easily twice the price point. — 7 years ago
Reynvaan Family Vineyards
In the Rocks Vineyard 2016
Rock star of a wine! Floral, peppery, bacon on the nose, BlackBerry, smoked meat, olive on the palate. Complex wine with a long mineral finish. Love the 13.5 Alc. Could easily mistake for Hermitage or Core Rotie — 5 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005
Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.
The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.
Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.
The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.
Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 5 years ago
Heitz Cellar
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks
I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.
The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.
The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.
The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.
Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 5 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1983
The Joseph Party and the 1983 Insignia from 3L.
The nose show lean, stewed fruits. While it is always a treat to drink their older vintages, this one probably better served 5 years early. Still enjoyable. Blackberries, dry, dark cherries, rhubarb, bright cherries, ripe strawberries, old leather & tobacco, limestone minerals, cedar to saddle-wood, steeped tea, touch mint & dry herbs, crushed dry rocks, underbrush, forest floor with withering, dry red floral bouquet.
The body is lean and very well resolved tannin structure. The tension, structure, length has lost some their step. Blackberries, dry, dark cherries, rhubarb, bright cherries, ripe strawberries, old leather & tobacco, limestone minerals, cedar to saddle-wood, steeped tea, touch mint & dry herbs, crushed dry rocks, barnyard, pine twigs, underbrush, forest floor with withering, dry red floral bouquet. the acidy is nice. The finish while fun, interesting has lost some of its flare but, again, still enjoyable. — 6 years ago
Arnot-Roberts
Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay 2014
Very bright and clear. Lime and wet rocks. Precise and sharp with real clarity and freshness. — 7 years ago
Marcassin
Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay 2008
A milestone birthday requires some fun wines! 1st bottle to polish off is a 2008 Marcassin chard with Hog Island oysters, butter poached lobster, and shrimp.
Double decant for fine cloudy sediment. An irresistible medium gold color.. On the nose: nectarines, pineapple, vanilla toast, lemon, and crushed rocks. Taste: so gooood after 12 years. A slightly creamy wine with carmalized pear, wet stones, lemon peel, and a mineral peach long finish with good acidity. — 5 years ago
Weltner
Rödelseer Küchenmeister trocken Riesling 2018
Weltner’s sleeper wine. This is always so brilliant. What a nose. Lime pith and rocks. Tons and tons of rocks. Spring air on a mid 60’s day in the Franconian forest. Herbs, some flowers, sprigs of mint. Palate is tactile and intense with serious sap and structure. Great density. Amazing balance and purity. This has structure and guts to age. What a finish. It’s so long. This is more about freshness, minerality and fruit at this young stage. Although if you look there is some apricot there. Very complex and juicy and bone dry. This is a 10+ year wine easy. More notes as it opens which Paul’s wines do better than anybody. — 5 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Main course is a Beef Tenderloin Roast with Rosemary, Crispy Duck Fat Potatoes, Sautéed Greens. The beef is among the most tender (cut it with a fork) & flavorful we’ve had.
From magnum. The nose shows; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, anise, dry soils, dry crushed rocks, some graphite, cigar, dark, rich earth, blue/purple fruit cola, very soft dark spice with blue and purple florals set in lavender.
The body full, lush & thick. The tannins, rounded, tarry and velvety chewy. The structure & tension have hit its stride but, a little leaner than I’m used to in a Phelps Cabernet. The length and balance are exactly what I expect from them. It’s elegant, ripe & juicy. Dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, soft clove, vanilla, nutmeg, dry soils, dry crushed rocks, moist clay some graphite, cigar, leather, limestone, dry herbs, dark, rich earth, blue/purple fruit cola, very soft dark spice with blue and purple florals set in lavender. The acidity is a gentle rain shower. The long finish is delicious and persists into a dark spice.
Perfect with Hedy’s Boeuf.
Wine is peaking in Magnum with another 5-8 years ahead.
The “Truth” which, is the very bottom, concentrated part of the bottle is a 9.3.
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🤶🎁🦌❄️⛄️🍷 — 6 years ago
Produttori del Barbaresco
Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012
The nose reveals; sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, dark chocolate, limestone minerals, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.
The body is still firm, thick, grainy and full. The structure, tension are still tight. The length and balance are working their way into adolescence. Sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, black raspberries, juicy, black plum, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate, semi-sweet tarriness, understated herbaceousiness, limestone minerals, powdery sandstone leather, dry tobacco, saddle-wood to cedar plank, dark spice, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.
It’s still a youthful wine with another 10-15 years ahead.
Photos of; the hilltop town of Barbaresco with the Produttori tasting room underneath and right of the tower, the Produttori tasting room and the co-op of Produttori. Third largest in Europe. — 6 years ago
Vietti
Roero Arneis 2016
Always a pleasure rocks, flowers, peaches 😋 — 6 years ago
Two Vintners
Some Days are Stones Syrah 2012
Ah, the Rocks at Milton-Freewater produce such remarkable and distinctive fruit. Morgan Lee’s take on the Stoney Vine Syrah is outstanding. Earthy, gamey, succulent, dark and full stone fruit (plum) that just keeps going. This is good for another 5 years I think. — 7 years ago
Conrad Green
A little more advanced than previous bottles... Yellow floral notes, some tangy lime, rocks. Great balance. Very pure — 5 years ago