Off The Hook

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2005

Started wth a slight must on the nose, but that blew off. Opened to round and bright red and some blue fruit. Tobacco and wood (not lavish oak, maybe cedar) round it out. Fine grained tannins and a wonderful finish. Love the value of Rioja and hard to believe I just got some of these babies recently. This was the 125th vintage. — 9 years ago

David, Daragh and 4 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nice notes.

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

If you have to drink a 2011 Napa Cabernet, this is the one. Overcomes the flimsiness and off-centered taste of many of its peers. Blueberry, suggestive of Alexander Valley cabs, is present in spades, and wonderful, smooth, and satisfying midpalate and finish. — 10 years ago

Hook & Ladder

The Tillerman Estate Bottled Los Amigos Ranch Red Blend 2012

After 45 minutes in a decanter the wine opened up. A great pairing with beef tenderloin. Dark cherry with a spiced finish. — 10 years ago

Hunter
with Hunter

Arianna Occhipinti

SP68 Terre Siciliane Nero d'Avola Frappato 2013

Funky nose that blew off to reveal dark fruit and earth. Deep complexity. — 10 years ago

Veronica liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2002

Dan Fredman
9.0

Still way young, more than a hint of horse barn funk permeated this on day one but blew off after a day in the decanter. Good depth and finish, just needs another decade on the cellar. — 11 years ago

Ed, Jorge and 5 others liked this

Hook & Ladder

Estate Bottled Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2010

Thanksgiving 2013. Mom, Dad, Grandmother, Aunt Betty Sue — 12 years ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1995

Greg Ballington
9.0

Perfect way to finish off a stunning meal. Dark golden yellow. With lots of hay and wheat on the nose. Super thick syrupy texture with tons of honey and honeysuckle. Possibly has had little TCA. Great acidity (6/10) and full bodied. Long finish too with lots of life left in it! Drink till 2030. — 9 years ago

India OkohSteve Distler
with India and Steve
David, Neil and 4 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2005

This red took a full 2 hours to open up, but the cedar, spice, raspberry and young leather aromas are growing, gradually, in intensity. Now (2 hrs later) the spice and vivacity are off the freakin chart! Very youthful, well-balanced, nuanced. Old school Bordeaux-like, but seems higher in acidity. However, while the acidity is medium+, it is tempered by full, red fruit, 13.5% abv, present but non-intrusive tannins, and a medium-bodied texture with excellent length (over 1 minute). The other factor is the one that says "Wow!", and that is definitely true here. Memorable and unique, I must get more for the wine fridge. — 9 years ago

Josh, Marc and 1 other liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2011

Sceptical from previous supertuscan encounters, I decided to try the original from Antinori (which I was sure was overpriced). Intense clear dark ruby color; the fruit hit me before the glass was even swirled and then reveals dark and red fruits in perfect balance with oak aromas; high acid, high alcohol, youthful delicious round mouthfeel of dark dried fruits and supple tannins at front of mouth, and with a medium-long finish. Well balanced, elegant, and powerful; and priced correctly. Had with pata negra, manchego and the organ of the Mormon Tabernacle sounding off Saint-Saëns' symphony. — 10 years ago

"Odedi" and Andrea liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Nice review

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1961

Ex-Chateau bottle. Testament to perfect storage. Light Amber edge with a darker core. Started off full of toast and just a whiff of brett. Slow ox for 2 hrs then poured. Amazing life for a 54yr old wine still in its stride. Light and dark fruit with seamless integrity and polish. Classic old BDX. After the initial funk blew off it kept developing in the glass. I could drink this all night long. Awesome — 10 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1983

The wine was medium to dark garnet in colour. On day one it offered red fruit, cherry, balsamic vinegar, cola, leather, mushroom, earthy and vegetal notes and a wet sewer component on the nose. On the palate the the wine showed red fruit, cherry, blackberry, tobacco and earthy notes, the acidity was quite pronounced, the wine became slightly drying and even more acidic after some time in the glass, and the fruit faded a bit. Two days later, on day three, the medium-bodied wine was more balanced and showed red and dark fruit, some chocolate, some tobacco, spices and earthy notes on the nose, and red fruit, cherry, leather, tobacco, earthy and balsamic notes on the palate, with just a faint touch of greenness, paired with medium-plus well-integrated tannin, medium-plus acidity and very good length. I had almost written-off the wine on day one and then, surprisingly, it showed much better the third day. Holding-up well. 90 — 11 years ago

Éric Texier

Rouletabulle Off Dry Pétillant Naturel Chasselas 2011

Pedro Rusk
9.6

Sparkling Chasselas very limited and like many things that are hard to find the reward is great — 13 years ago

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1900

Spectacular! Mind blowing. One of my top 10 of all time. On every serious wine lover’s bucket list, and here we had a nigh perfect bottle. While aromatically a little recalcitrant, you still got some of the Margaux violets and potpourri on the nose, hints of clove, all trying to shake off their doldrums. But on the palate, it was timelessly ravishing. The finesse, richness, balance and smoothness, with an underlying, almost flabbergasting mixture of complexity and delicacy, was just astonishing. The finish is marvelously sweet and intense, with chocolate and cassis and utterly seamless tannins. This is a miracle of wine making and an exaltation of vintage and terroir besides. Wow! And bravo! We can only pray for an encore of such a wine. — 9 years ago

David, Monica and 28 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Holy shit. And that was a phenomenal vintage too. The best posting ever on delectables!!!@Greg Gregory www.vinfolio.com
Greg Gregory

Greg Gregory Influencer Badge

Moat amazing wine evening of my life and I've been lucky to have said that twice before. More to follow what I've already posted. Four more flights.
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

Crazy and very jealous

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1976

Why do LVMH almost ruin these great chateaus? Even this off year was more luscious and interesting than any recent vintage after they sold out! Sigh... — 10 years ago

George and Eric liked this
Eric Egan

Eric Egan Influencer Badge

Amen! Had the '78 the other week. Amazing wine!

Hook & Ladder

The Tillerman Estate Bottled Russian River Valley Red Blend 2012

Good blend, especially for the price. Good nose and spicy finish. — 10 years ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1968

Richard Young
9.2

"Off-vintage" Latour, always a pleasure — 10 years ago

Dick, Charles and 2 others liked this

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1986

Christopher Hoel
9.9

En magnum and off the hook!!! — 12 years ago

Daniel, Hai and 19 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1992

No one likes a show off ;) — 12 years ago

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

An unbelievable wine, still ripe, even in an 'off vintage' — 13 years ago