Mommy's Time Out
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)
Richebourg Pinot Noir 1971
Oh boy......what can i say....is this a turning point in my life....???.....i hate pinot noir.....there is missing something all the time....and now...this evening....in Düsseldorf Gernany...everything blind.....wooow....out of this world....that colour...no please....help....it can’t be......demasqué.....f..ck! It is.....pinot noir....Burgundy....perfect score.....it happened..... — 6 years ago
Marcel Lapierre
Morgon Gamay 2014
Second course...Chestnut Soup with a tiny hint of warmer spices (cardamom, clove, fennel) with a tiny tang and nut flavor with Madeira Cream. One of the best pairings I’ve done in some time.
Notes apply from last weekend.
Check out Chef Hedy’s Pop Up Dinner business @plate&bottle on Facebook. — 7 years ago
E. Guigal
La Landonne Côte-Rotie Syrah 2004
Loved this...DEF needed more time to air out. Tart red fruit, smoky campfire, slight grilled meats, whole cluster stinkiness, med plus acid....long finish. Great stuff, mote time in decanter and this is a super star! La La! — 7 years ago
Spaceman Vineyards
One Time Spaceman Moon Duck Red Rhone Blend
Super light body, smooth, blackberry/blueberry, tart but not abrasive at all. Almost citric like a white. Oak comes out as it warms, vanilla. Decant. — 8 years ago
Bevan Cellars
Ontogeny Oakville Red Wine 2014
This will be a very nice wine but needs time to integrate. Toasted oak spice and vanilla out of the gate, a mix of red and black fruit with blackcurrant liqueur and an almost unctuous palate. 14.9% and feels sweet and heavy to me because of it, but that is my bias. I think this wine achieves everything it wants to be. — 9 years ago
Arianna Occhipinti
Siccagno Nero d'Avola 2010
With time this has turned out to be a fabulous wine. Soft tannins, layers and layers of fruit — 10 years ago
Belle Glos
Dairyman Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2013
Nice red, black fruit and cola notes. Savory herbs and organic earth mid-palate and on the finish. High alcohol takes it out of balance a bit. Needs time. — 11 years ago
Laurel Glen Vineyard
Sonoma Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Dead sexy oaky says JD. Refined and balanced. Good right out of the bottle after opening can only improve with some time — 11 years ago
Dunn Vineyards
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1993
Wax was hard to get off. Essentially scrapped it off. Before cork even came out I could start smelling the wine. I thought it would be corked. Cork melted off even with an ah so. First sip just had a little bit of funk but overall very drinkable. Much like a French Bordeaux. Fruit is muted, dry. Dark fruit finish. Smell definitely is dry and has an older funk, herbal, medicinal - not in a negative way. Would have loved to seen how it would have done decanted but had no time. — 6 years ago
Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008
Out of a split. I blew it in not giving it proper decanting time. Probably be a bit higher if I did. Was delicious after time paired with prime rib. — 6 years ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Cubillo Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2007
Elegant Cubillo from the 07 vintage. Plenty of spicy/oak notes on both nose and palate. More finesse than other LDH bottles I’ve had, but no complaints here. One of my favorite producers in the world. Enjoyed alongside a curiousity, The Groderdeck Whipperjenny which is a spaced out jazz funk effort led by David Matthews who was also James Brown’s arranger and band leader at the time. Great stuff all around here. — 7 years ago
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Indian Wells Columbia Valley Merlot 2014
It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a great one from Columbia Valley.
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, cherries, cooked plums, wood, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, dark coffee, mocha, earth, leather, coke and black pepper. What a great nose.
Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates, peppercorn, earth sweet vinaigrette, dark coffee and light mocha.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This 4 year old Merlot from Washington State surprised me.
Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.
Soft, spicy and smooth. Peaking now, and better now than a year or two ago.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (1 hour).
I paired it with a filet mignon and grilled asparagus.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$20. — 7 years ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1940
What a beautiful person inside and out! I'm blessed beyond measure to be able to call him "Dad". Words can't adequately express how much I Love him. We opened a few bottles last night that I will hold near and dear to my heart forever. We are celebrating his completion of 6 rounds of chemo therapy in his battle against Prostate cancer. This is his 3rd time in the ring against this opponent and it appears that he's won with a unanimous decision by knockout at this time!!!!!! Love you dad!!!!! So proud of your strength through this process. My Father was born in 1940. A difficult year to say the least:
Germans entered Bordeaux in June of 1940. As dictated by Hitler himself, it was the sworn duty of each and every commander to search and seize whatever could be used for the advancement of the German cause. Bedlam broke out. Chateaux' were ransacked, wine cellars were looted if not used for target practice. The Chateauxs were forced to continue producing wines. It's poetic justice that Mother Nature provided the Germans with the worst growing season from 1940 to 1944!!!! The Germans left Bordeaux in 1944 to the cheers of the residents "Au Revoir Les Allemands"!!!! The 1940 bottle that we enjoyed this evening survived World War II. It Survived the ransacking, pillaging & plunder of countless German soldiers. It's outer capsule showed evident signs of its struggle but it's inner beauty was unblemished and glorious. I've had many, many vintages of Latour from 1928 and on but none have ever tasted as perfect as the one we enjoyed tonight. This 1940 was perfect. It was a fighter, it never gave up, it never relinquished in the face of adversity. That's my Father, that my role model. He's a beautiful person inside & out. I think 1940 is the best vintage that I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. Special thanks to my good friends Michael Troise whom provided me with much of the insights in regards to the incredibly difficult vintage and David Page whom gifted this bottle to me for our celebration this evening. I will never forget your generosity. It was a glorious evening to say the least!!! Wine has a way of bringing people together and encapsulating an evening and event. I couldn't think of a better way to rejoice in his victory than to open a Father & Son birth year wine. — 9 years ago
The Ojai Vineyard
Roll Ranch Vineyard Syrah 2010
Had the 2010 Roll Ranch with Christmas dinner of prime rib, baby artichokes, asparagus, roasted potatoes. Had this after a 1999 Dalla Valle Cabernet. A little thin on first sip and not a as full as the regular cuvée. Losing fruit? Energized and vibrant for an older vintage. After some time in the glass, the wine filled out and is improving. Maybe decant? — 10 years ago
Ridge Vineyards
Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend
Needs some time but should turn out very nice — 11 years ago
Château Montrose
Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989
We went 2/2 tonight. This bottle was a testament to perfect storage. Cork was perfect, and the wine was dark ruby with ever so slight bricking at the rim. Awesome. More approachable than the 90 and makes you wanna curl up with it for a long time. Better than the bottle I had at the Montrose vertical a month ago. Blind I would guess 10 yrs newer. For this price point and quality it's a must add. Edged out the Margaux. — 11 years ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend 2004
I mean I'm not going to spit it out or anything.... Just messing around. Special wine when it is time to celebrate! — 11 years ago
Château Cantemerle
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
Plenty of time in the bottle but still somewhat of a rowdy teenager. Deep red, bordering on purple in colour, relatively savoury in flavour with dark fruits, minerals and a liquorice undertone. There’s still quite a bit of tannin and acidity but neither are overpowering. The issue is that all of the above features have not yet fully blended together and although the finish is restrained it is also a bit rough around the edges. I think this will smooth out over time and there are still many years in this. — 6 years ago
Château Margaux
Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1987
Worth the hype. Complex wine that was beautiful through and through. Drank out of a 6L and took time to open. — 6 years ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend
Even though we brought spilts with us on our trip, I still missed it. There just aren’t many better starters to kickoff a weekend night. Cheers! 🥂
Many previous notes still apply.
The next time you have BSR as an aperitif and your are having red wine after, save some to close out your night. The BSR ascends from 1080p HD to OLED 4K on your palate. For that matter, any quality Champagne will do. — 7 years ago
Bodega Comando
La Bruja Avería Rozas de Puerto Real Grenache 2015
We’ve been talking about this producer for a while, so excited to have found the appellation level, even if the vineyard designated bottles are few and far between. Begins with all graphite and granite on the nose, sharp and clean. Opens into reserved fruit on the palate and earthy florals like tulip or orchid. More time in the glass allows for a bit of a saline and meaty character to appear. Whole cluster, but you wouldn’t know it right away, the structure is decidedly not oak tannin, angular, but not overwhelmingly so. Paired with an arrabiata sauce, which softens the white pepper, brings out the red fruit, and surprisingly doesn’t negatively showcase the alcohol content. It’s enticing! Keeps ya checking back for more. — 7 years ago
G.D. Vajra
Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2013
By now I have run out of superlatives for Vajra, from whom you will find some of the finest, artisan wines being made in Piedmont today. At a time when prices for so many wines are skyrocketing out of control, Vajra’s prices are a breath of fresh air. The Barolos are made in contemporary traditional style, with longish fermentations and aging in cask. Vajra’s 2013 Barolo Albe is beautifully perfumed, sensual, and expressive in this vintage. The style of the Albe has always favored a more succulent expression of Nebbiolo yet there is an element of restraint in the 2013 that is hugely appealing. The Albe may be the single best value in Barolo today. As for the 2013, don't miss it! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2017)
— 8 years ago
Domaine Coche-Dury (J.F. Coche Dury)
Meursault Chardonnay 2010
First Coche ever. Technically perfect in every way though no particular wow factor. Similar experience over three hours. While not reductive in any fashion and oak didn't stick out, perhaps it needs more time to blossom into its legend... Stellar pricing btw and fantastic meal at Lameloise. — 9 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
My mom said she found out about this app on the today show. Thanks mom, why can't you remember that time I won a karate competition by decapitation? — 10 years ago
Château Gruaud Larose
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001
2001 vintage lovely dense plumbs, currants, violets and spice on the nose. Rich and warm, headily inviting, with the perfume jumping out of the glass capturing and demanding attention. Tightly packed mouthful as well, surprisingly medium bodied, good fruit and tannin, but closed and needing time. Good aftertaste, probably needs 3 to 5 years before opening up to its best. — 11 years ago
Domaine Jamet
Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1990
Coaxing it out of the glass. Needs time to blow off typical barnyard nose, leads way to dark red fruit and really long finish — 11 years ago
Michael David Winery
Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot
Fresh out of the bottle - funky spice aromas. On the palate - bone dry and incredibly tight. Decanted for three hours. I can't tell you how much it opened up in that time. This wine is phenomenal. Incredibly smooth, smokey, surprisingly juicy. Just gorgeous. Must try! — 11 years ago
"Odedi"
Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Israel.
Inky in color with a short reddish/brick rim.
Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, light cedar, spices, cola, tobacco leaf, black tea, alcohol, coffee, milk chocolates, light herbs and black pepper.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, cedar, vanilla, spices, earth, milk chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and light vinaigrette.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a wonderful Merlot blend from Israel. Showing nice complexity and well balanced with a great mouthfeel. Really enjoyed the nose here, even after a few minutes out of the bottle.
This four year old is already yummy right out of the bottle, but better after a couple of hours in a decanter.
I've had this before, and this time I decided to give it a slight chill, and boy it was delicious.
Nice buttery mouthfeel, even looks buttery when poured. Drinking very nicely now.
Very tasty and fruit forward. Dark, extracted and rich. Feels like a Napa Bordeaux blend.
A blend of 42% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit verdot and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and Kosher. Mevushal.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$65. — 6 years ago