Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous note from 96 weeks ago where I said that I would drink the last one when my son Hugh was home from NY (born 1987) which came to pass last night. Overall not as impressive as the previous tasting but retains its silky tannin structure. Very dark in colour - opaque. Notes of cassis and pipe tobacco - overall dusty without the depth of fruit of the previous tasting. Just medium bodied. Tasting Book recommend a drinking window till 2035 which I would not agree with. Leads me to think I will be drinking my bottles of 86 Mouton sooner rather than later. — 4 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Beautiful, clear nose of pipe tobacco and rich red fruit. The tannins have finally dialled back, bringing this Dominus balance it previously lacked. Sweet oak and ripe cherries and plums, some nice secondary stuff emerging. I’d give this a few more years to play out or a long decant. — 5 years ago

with Melissa

Shay A

9.6

Wednesday Wine Committee from this past week. A fantastic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind as usual.

Possibly in its prime drinking window, and it is gorgeous. Everything about this screams high quality left bank Bordeaux (which is what I called it). It was beautifully perfumed with a mix of potpourri, dried black cherries, blackberries, graphite, saddle leather and herbs de Provence. Perfectly balanced on the palate with dark fruits enveloped in cedar and sweet pipe tobacco. There is a line of ripe purple fruits down the middle accompanied by dust and mocha which is just delicious. — 6 years ago

with Dan, joe and 2 others

Severn G

9.1

Just concluded our annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

60% Zinfandel, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, for the 2005 vintage blend. This label features Redhead ducks, which we have commonly seen occupying our beachfront, not this year unfortunately.
Nose has vanilla bean, pipe tobacco, ripe cherry, ripe blackberry, prune (light) and over-ripe plum.
Palate has rich blackberry & cherry, oak plank, chalk (light), dried strawberry, ripe plum and raisin (light).
Beautifully long finish and tannins are long gone; this bottle is at the end of its life, also our last bottle of this vintage. Always interesting to see how long they will hold. The labels have always been a favorite of ours. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

Another very good wine. Super soft. Tastes more modern in style. Ripe. Mixed berry pie, chocolate covered cherry cordials and pipe tobacco notes. Balances fruit and savory notes. With an extended decant, this is very enjoyable now, but will get better. I called this ‘14 Left Bank. Thanks @Colby Siratt . — 7 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Kevin

9.5

Wow dat plum. It draws out EXTREMELY well. If you are a plum fan, would suggest. — 7 years ago

with Emily

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened to celebrate my son’s 15th birthday and poured alongside the 2006 Eagle’s Trace “Latitude 38”. The 2006 Seavey Caravina pours a deep garnet color with a completely opaque core. No obvious signs of age in the glass. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium+ intensity, with strong pipe tobacco notes, currants, black cherry, figs, some green bell pepper and leather. On the palate dark fruits dominate with black cherry, black currants and blackberries. The tobacco and leather is also there accompanied by semi-sweet baking chocolate, baking spice and some anise. The wine finishes dry with medium tannins, most of which are well integrated at this point. Medium+ acid. Medium plus alcohol. The finish is long. Another very lovely vintage of Caravina, aging gracefully.
— 4 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

Decanted 2 hours. Fairly retrained on the nose, getting some red and black fruit and oak. A little burst of black/red fruit with a light punch of cassis. Earthy, balanced and restrained. Hints of vanilla and pipe tobacco. Drinking well but I need to leave some to age a few more years, this can go a lot further. — 5 years ago

John Azzopardi

9.0

Juicy delicious relatively complex red with almost no tannin — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

My friend graciously shared the 2008 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape which was a rare treat that is truly one of the wines of the vintage. The intoxicating bouquet of rose petals, Provencale herbs, sweet pipe tobacco and pretty red fruits bring you back to the glass for more aromatic delight. The texture of the wine borders ethereal as the Grenache effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. Bright guava and Yakima cherry flavors combine with damp earthy tones, minerals and a marvelous salinity that runs through the core of the wine. The exceedingly long finish lingers. While marvelous now, the 2008 Rayas will have a long life ahead of it in the cellar. Drink 2020-2038- 96 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

Sourced from the esteemed ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the 2017 ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah begins with lovely stony undertones that mingle with the green olive tapenade, bacon fat, cigar ash and clove aromatics that all marvelously combine in the glass. The texture imparted is seriously good as is the flavor range from Satsuma orange zest to ripe red cherry to shades of Umami, bulls blood and sweet pipe tobacco. Delicious now, this will continue to evolve well over the next eight to ten years — but why wait? Drink 2019-2026- 93 — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

After trying this, I was informed that this one had been slow-oxing for 3 days! Soft quality with very rounded edges. Red and black fruits here get you right in the front with a dried nut character. Plum, pipe tobacco, a little foresty in the middle. Finishes with a lot of elegance but still has enough grip and pepper that it would go very well with really just about any food or fare. If this wine is drinking this well after 3 days, it still has a ton of life left! — 6 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

Ara Aslanian

9.5

Beautiful nose; pipe tobacco, leather, earthy. Long finish. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

The 2014 vintage was the last harvest while Serge Hochar was still alive. He tragically drowned while on holiday, NYE in 2014. I have no logical reason to be wary of Musar’s future as the team involved in producing the wines have been in place for some time. However, Serge’s death was for me, the loss of an wine hero. This is my first experience with the 2014 and I can’t help but reflect on the unforgettable experiences I’ve had drinking wines that he produced.

Decanted for several hours prior to dinner, the wine appears a deep purple turning garnet after plenty of air with an opaque core. High intensity, medium+ viscosity, a touch of sediment. On the nose, this is a wild carnival for the senses with cherries, mulberries, rhubarb pie, Twin Bing, harissa, kofta, pipe tobacco, oud, teriyaki, and event canned peaches (though only after some time in the glass). On the palate, things are much more modest with a very compelling cherry compote and bright cranberry notes with some tobacco and baking spices. Very primary at this stage. Medium tannin with medium+ acid. The finish long…forever and a day with dried cherries and dates bringing me home. While still an infant, this is shaping up to be a lovely and long-lived vintage of Musar Rouge. Cheers, Serge. Your legacy lives on. — 4 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.4

Awesome juice, as always. Juicy, ripe, sweet blue and black fruits, Luxardo syrup, clove, star anise, sweet Swedish licorice, moist cherry pipe tobacco, molasses, fig. Absolutely beautiful. — 5 years ago

with Krystal

Sharon Harrison

8.9

The 2017 Pessimist has a powerful and intensely aromatic nose that ascends to greet you with blueberry, boysenberry and black plum fragrance. Evolving layers reveal elderberry and truffle, with cocoa and cardamom spice accents, further augmented by hints of eucalyptus, leather, cherry pipe tobacco and grilled meats.
Broad and expansive on the palate, bestowing lush and generous flavors of black cherry, blueberry, crème de cassis and damp forest floor. Notes of lavender, anise and black olives complement the rich fruit. Massive in weight yet elegantly structured, this wine is a powerhouse that reveals itself in controlled stages .
The finish is smooth and leisurely. Essences of pure dark berry fruit seemingly refuse to abate with a gorgeous fitting finale. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Gold in colour - crystal clear. Kerosene/mineral notes with some chalky aromas. Pristine citrusy flavours coming into the stone fruit spectrum. Medium minus acid but medium plus intensity. (12.5% ABV). A well made Eden Valley Riesling drinking at its peak. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.1

A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Nice to revisit this from earlier in the year. Out of the flight, I found this to be the most aged. Integrated. Dusty and underripe black cherries on the nose with herbs. Cherry pipe tobacco, bayleaf and leather on the palate with a fading structure. Drink up. I guessed early ‘90s left bank Bordeaux. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Martijn

9.5

Rain, hail, 7 degrees Celsius in May. Time for some fire and toro wine! Some iberico ham and bang we are back in Spain. Purple red. Almost black in the middle. Big nose: figue, almondpaste, hay, cedarwood, pipe tobaco, chocolate. Wow in the mouth. Big Bold taste which finishes over the minute. — 7 years ago

Christopher Fowler

9.0

Dark chocolate on the nose. Medium body. Sweet tobacco and ripe fruit on the palate. — 7 years ago

with Tricia and Michael