On The Rocks Cocktails

Edmunds St. John

Rocks and Gravel Dry Creek Valley Grenache Blend 2015

From magnum. Last vintage of this ever made and in an amazing spot. Light on its feet while still showing wild and somewhat brooding character. This disappeared rather quickly. — 7 months ago

Tom, Severn and 2 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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I miss ESJ.

Château Brane-Cantenac

Grand Cru Classé en 1855 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Somm David T
9.3

Love Margaux wines with rack of lamb. It is a classic pair as long as you are not doing a Mediterranean mint prep. This is salt, pepper, Napa Valley rub and red wine.

As it airs and intermixes w/ the meal, it rises from 93 to 94.

The wine is approaching its peak. Still has another 10 yrs of appropriate drinking.

The fruits are ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries, raspberries with hues of purple & blue fruits. There is excellent integration & evolution. Led pencil shavings, fresh & dry herbs, moist grey volcanic minerals/clay, fresh & dry tobacco, sandalwood, used leather, soft, dark spice with heat on the long set, limestone, dry crushed rocks into powder, touch of black pepper, saline, fresh dark, red flowers with violets, excellent, cool rainfall acidity, well woven, balanced, softly tensioned & structured with a pure elegant finish that lasts a full two-minutes.
— a year ago

Ira, Paul and 19 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Agree! Classic pairing! (Although I’m not as geo-precise as you—I’ll take any nice Cab-majority left banker!)

Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau

Silex Pouilly-Fumé Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Stat bright pale straw. Lighter but inviting nose of Asian pear, toasted vanilla spice, and rocks. Palate is medium full yielding chalky pear, flinty citrus rind, and a hint of chalky vanilla. Medium long finish, especially as the wine warms up. The flagship wine of Domaine Dagueneau lives up to all the hype. “A red in white clothing,” as my drinking partner puts it. Allegedly, Didier preferred this wine with a rare steak. I totally get that, having had this with a lightly marbled New York strip (and shrimp). It’s Cabernet Sauvignon’s mother after all. So much complexity and general “stuff” in this wine! If you’re one of those who won’t spend a lot on white wines, you’re missing out. This is up there with Savienneres and White Burgundy among white wine royalty. Fork over the cash. You won’t regret it. Drink now through 2026. — 4 years ago

Ron, Deborah and 5 others liked this
Ron R

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Great bottle. Made by his son after his sudden death approximately 10 - 12 years ago…
Keith Crump

Keith Crump

Love this wine

Kosta Browne

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2012

Somm David T
9.3

Happy New Year! 🎉🎆🎈🎊 🧨

Excellent vintage. I think even better for Pinot than Cabernet in some cases.

Baked blackberries, black raspberries, raspberries, black plum, baked, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, dry cranberries/rhubarb, maple syrup, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry, grilled meats, dry tobacco, wood shavings, anise, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, dark spice, some black lichen, vanillin, warm caramel, sun tea, mid berry cola, dry twig, withering to decayed, dark, red, purple flowers, round acidity, well made, structured, balanced, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on dark spice, earthiness.
— 7 months ago

Scott@Mister, Shay and 14 others liked this

Bouchard Aîné et Fils

Pouilly-Fuissè Chardonnay 2020

Pouilly and Fuissé are the names of two villages in the Mâconnais region, located at the foot of the famous Solutré and Vergisson rocks. The vineyards cover a total of 850 hectares which are divided between four communes. Medium lemon color with aromas of citrus, stone fruits and nutty floral notes. On the palate flavors of apple, melon and lemon citrus with notes of honey and nutty oak. Medium+ finish, vivid acidity and ends with minerality. Nice! — 2 years ago

Paul, Juan and 4 others liked this

Delmas Wines

Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2016

Sticking with previous score, I forgot how good this was. 1 bottle left

Their 2016 Syrah SJR Vineyard is a wine from this estate. A blend of 91.6% Syrah and 8.4 Viognier that spent 14 months in 60% new French oak,


estate was created by Steve and Mary Delmas Robertson and focuses on their estate SJR Vineyard located in the Rocks region of Walla Walla. Their daughter Brooke Delmas Robertson manages the farming, and the wines are made by Billo Naravane.
— 3 years ago

Eric, Deborah and 19 others liked this
Eric

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This was an acquired taste for me but a big fan now.

Meßmer

Feinherb Riesling 2019

2019 vintage. Good balance of tropical fruit, a little green, and lots of mineral. Pineapple, tangerine, green apple, green grape, a little but of a confected quality (like the powdered sugar/cornstarch mixture on Turkish delight), rocks. — 4 years ago

Peter, Ira and 3 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

Somm David T
9.5

The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.

The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.

The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.

If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley.
— a year ago

Juan, Shay and 16 others liked this

Jones Family Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Somm David T
9.6

For those of you that don’t know Jones Family, you should. This 10 is so different from their 09. The 10 is wine candy and the 09 is a bit more rugged & structured. Not that the 09 is rugged. Just a relative comparison.

The nose is candied, floral, perfumed, lush & ruby, slightly bramble fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, poached strawberries, ripe, baked rhubarb, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, heavy, beautiful spices, dark, fruit cola, dry crushed rocks, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, hint of mint, dark, rich, moist earth, fresh herbaceous notes, dark chocolate with caramel cake with ruby, candied, dark, purple, and blue florals framed in violets.

The palate & mouthfeel is full, lush, ruby & glorious. Candied, lush, ripe, ruby, slightly brambly fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, poached strawberries, boysenberries, ripe, baked rhubarb, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, heavy, beautiful spices, dark, fruit cola, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, used leather, wood shavings, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, hint of mint, dark, rich, moist earth, fresh herbaceous notes, dark chocolate with caramel cake with ruby, candied, dark, purple, lavender and blue florals framed in violets for days. The acidly is about the best I’ve had in a Napa Cabernet. The finish is extremely well balanced & structured. It goes from ripe, ruby, lush fruits that falls gently on to well softened earthiness that lasts minutes. This is an outstanding wine. Perfectly soft, well integrated with amazing evolution. Still has another 5-8 plus years but its approaching its precipice. Beautiful, beautiful Napa Cabernet.

Great pair with the Allen Brothers Cowgirl Bone-in Ribeye.

Photos of the Jones Family and their property. Their glorious fruit at harvest. Jones Family Vineyards was founded by Rick and Sally Jones. Unfortunately, Sally passed away in 2005.
— 2 years ago

Sage, Ming and 18 others liked this

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

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 18 others liked this
Bryan Kesting

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Happy Birthday, Tom! Great wines for a special day.
Mike R

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Happy birthday and celebrated beautifully @Tom Garland
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Ron R@David L@Bryan Kesting@Mike R Thanks! It was a great night..Cheers everyone!