Off Piste Wines

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

Not the best vintage but this was very impressive. Decadent but refined and elegant. Rounded off the red wines beautifully — 6 months ago

Tom, Pooneet and 12 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Andrew McIntyre, hey, Palmer is “Palmer”, no apologies are EVER necessary when you’re lucky enough to drink some. I only have some bottles of 1983 left in my cellar (a nearly perfect wine), but was blessed enough to have some NYC friends when I was “learning” back in the 1980s who graciously shared some 1961/66/70 Palmer with me!!
Andrew McIntyre

Andrew McIntyre

@Doug Powers Kind of have the feeling that there are no bad Palmer. Was really surprised how good this was!

Peter Lauer

Senior Faß 6 Ayler Riesling 2020

2020. Wonderful tropical and lime aromas and flavors with almost off the charts minerals and acidity on the finish. — 3 years ago

Andrew, Severn and 5 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Paul K
9.4

Wrapping up a long weekend in Miami celebrating with friends.
Really good. The fruit is round. Get the Malbec and Petit Verdot. Classy finish that shows off the Cab Franc. This will improve with time as fruit settles down.
— 5 years ago

Daniel P., Tom and 31 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2001

Such a dense and youthful nose - brett of course, which gradually blows off to reveal smoked cherry, cranberry, blackberry preserve, cedar, clove and a balsamic edge. It’s exotic, and unmistakably Musar.

The palate is actually very sweet, with an immediate hit of liquorice, followed by plum compote, blackberry jam, fresh tobacco and vanilla. Not the Musar for me, but it’s hard to deny the wine’s complexity. The wine has high acidity and fine tannins, and I’d say in ten years the 2001 will be a beauty.

92+
— 5 years ago

Ira liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Andrew Holod
9.1

ID 314057 (just off one digit from pi)
Golrious balance. Cork was compressed and showing age, though I stored this in my cold cellar. Nose of yellow fruits and flowers. All of a piece, though feeling a bit spendy.
Happy Mother's day to my wife, paired w almond croissants and truffled eggs.
— 6 years ago

Iwan, Keith and 11 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Berry. Guessed this but was 2 years off. — 7 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1986

Lovely mature redfruit aromas, still some structure, medium-bodied, long finish, very fine “off” vintage of Beaucastel!! — 8 years ago

Ira liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3 years ago (9.6). Nice fill. Durand used to open. Cork 95% saturated with extensive bottle rim cleaning involved before pouring. Not decanted. Tight, minty nose throughout along with a decided, lingering zinc note under the tongue at the finish line. Tasted 2 hours after opening. Power but without delineation. Just a consistent, forgettable push. Nothing wrong with the wine...it just needed more air/time and a decant but it wasn't my call. Feel like the zinc flavor would have dissipated/blown off with more time. Good but more memorable for what it wasn't vs what it was. Pity and an entire wasting of what could have been. 11.21.25. — 6 months ago

Tom, Paul and 16 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Very interesting and diplomatic note.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas Had to bite my tongue.

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Delectable Wine
9.7

The 2019 Opus One shows off the more opulent side of the vintage to great effect. Sumptuous dark fruit, spice and floral accents wrap around the palate, with a fair amount of new oak adding volume and exotic flair. This is an especially showy Opus One that will drink well with minimal cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2023)
— 2 years ago

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2011

This bottle was a lovely gift from our friend Tim who visited Omaha this past Spring. Our only instructions were to enjoy it together with food; challenge accepted! While I have experienced many wines produced by Foillard, this was my first with his “Cote du Py”. The wine pours a deep ruby color; slightly hazy in the glass. On the nose, at least initially, there are signs of some Brett giving a barnyard characteristic but that sort of blows off (or at least becomes less obvious) with cherries, earth, blackened poblano, underripe plum, and purple Sweet Tarts taking a more central role. On the palate, it’s mostly dark cherry and blackberries showing very little in the way of evolution. Medium+ acid, medium- tannin. The finish was super long. I was really impressed how young this wine was coming across; hardly an indication of anything that would indicate ten years of age. Yet more proof that Beaujolais can cellar quite gracefully. We loved how this paired with grilled rack of lamb and a light salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, mozzarella and prosciutto. Grazie Tim! — 5 years ago

Andrew, Daniel and 16 others liked this
Daniel M

Daniel M

A favorite!
Daniel M

Daniel M

A favorite!

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 2001

Haha... just wrong. One of the most well integrated wines I have ever had. Thrown off not getting the typical smoked meat/ olive tapenade characteristics of northern Rhône. Dark red fruits, slate, gamy, fresh pepper and the right amount of funk. Simply sublime — 7 years ago

Jack Thompson
with Jack
Jack, Shay and 11 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004

I love Dominus but this bottle was a little off. :(. — 8 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2010

Jeremy Shanker
9.3

2016 is firing off rn — 6 months ago

Tom, Juan and 1 other liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Mid crimson with a tawny rim showing its age. Just as impressive as the 2000 vintage which tends to get the accolades. This blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Aromatics of an old flower arrangement that had dried off with mature black fruits and cedar. My last bottle at 24 years of age but many say this could carry on until the mid 2030s. A classic Bordeaux living up to its “Super Second” standing. — 10 months ago

Doug, Tom and 32 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Ooooh. . . .
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

2001's were so overlooked given the 2000 hype.

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2007

Oh my, what an absolute joy. This right here sings the song I want to hear. A pale old gold color in the glass. Perfectly precise perlage with a plethora of tiny, fine bubbles and showcasing innate creaminess. The nose is slightly intense opening with aromas of hazelnut, chalk, and lemon zest. Warm buttered brioche takes over for a moment full of bliss then a bit of smoke. Juicy peaches and pears commingle with fresh herbs and spices.

100% Chardonnay from the five Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. The tête de cuvée of Champagne Taittinger and it shows. It’s a very noble, prestigious champagne that matches complexity with downright deliciousness. The juxtaposition between luxury and comfort is evident here. Like coming out of a bath and slipping on your finest robe. The racy acidity and exquisitely dry nature of the wine belies the dosage of 9 g/l.

Very creamy in the mouth and though it starts off a bit demanding, it soon becomes so inviting after some time. Every sip demands the proper time and contemplation. Chalky and rich, positively bursting with citrus fruits. Apples and toast everywhere along with gun flint and more smoke. Medium long finish with traces of spice. A powerful, graceful champagne that’s full of finesse. This can go for decades longer but if you open it now sit with it for a while. Give it the proper time. You might fall in love just a little.
— 4 years ago

Douglas, Bob and 16 others liked this
Willie Carter

Willie Carter

@Trixie It’s my favorite glass for sure
Willie Carter

Willie Carter

@Brent Young Appreciate that!
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Holding on two a few bottles of this vintage for my kids.

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Always a great choice for a 2nd btl off the list to finish lunch. Lots of berry fruit, citrus, pastry dough in a creamy finish — 5 years ago

Jan, Josh and 11 others liked this

Ovum Wines

Off The Grid Riesling

Maybe the best expression of Riesling I’ve had from Ovum, certainly Oregon. Off-dry, orchard fruit, tropical fruit, minerality and slight petrol — 6 years ago

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Dark red fruits, charcoal and rosemary. Tannins have melted away and acidity is well balanced. Not as deep and complex as the magnum I had a couple months back. Good but not great. Perhaps just an “off” bottle?? — 7 years ago

Ira liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1992

At first i picked up a lot of acetyl in this relative to the other wines. After an hour that had blown off and this blossomed. Everything you hope for in Monte Bello. — 9 years ago

Shay, Bill and 1 other liked this