Pepper & Spice

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2002

Both intense and haunting at the same time. Lovely clear complex fruit with raspberry, deep cherry, a hint of orange rind. Spice and brooding dark gnarly fruit underneath but still light and deft. This is so complex and beautiful — 7 months ago

Matt Lichtenberg
with Matt
Jay, Bob and 7 others liked this
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

Was it pretty open? Decanted or aired first?
Conrad Green

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Decanted for a good few hours in advance. Showed really well

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

What a great refined wine. The 2018 Insignia opens with aromas of dark fruit, florals, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, mocha, and plum come through with a nice texture and tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. Wow! — 9 months ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael
Dave, Ira and 2 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2018

Enjoyed with BBQ ribs. Black pepper on the palette, hint of green olive and dark fruit on the nose. Delicious. — 9 months ago

Tom, Andrew and 6 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2005

Popped and poured from my cellar. The cork was absolutely perfect. The 2005 pours a rather turbid, deep garnet at nearly 17 years old. There's quite a bit of fine sediment that clings to the edge of the glass with each swirl. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this was initially a bit grumpy but within minutes, it relaxed and started to show some real charm. A fully developed wine, this is becoming a bit of a Leather Daddy, full of leather (obviously), bruised and desiccated red, black and blue fruits, Christmas spice fruit cake, coffee, damp earth, and candied nuts. On the palate, the fruit remains quite stunning and confirms the mix of bruised and desiccated fruit with a sort of sherried character. Loads of salmiakki (salted licorice), spiced nuts, pepper, coffee and, you guessed it, leather. The wine was dry, technically, but almost gives the sensation of some RS with all of the over-ripe fruits and the texture was almost sappy, in some ways. However, while this was absolutely rich and well-endowed, it was not cloying. Tannins have fully integrated (though still present) and the acid was like a girdle keeping everything held together. This remains a rather large personality even if it's showing its age. Definitely in a lovely spot...but how much longer will that last? If this wasn't my last bottle, I would probably be drinking these over the next five years unless you want the full Leather Daddy experience...which is okay if that's your thing. — 4 years ago

Jason, Alex and 13 others liked this
Jason Brater

Jason Brater

Ooh 05! Nice.

E. Guigal

Brune et Blonde de Guigal Côte-Rotie Syrah

Gorgeous wine with light ruby color!
Delicate aromas cherries, redcurrants, plums, red pepper, tobacco and bit of spices.
Perfect acidity and still young tannins.
In a taste cherries, redcurrants, meat, black pepper, strawberry jam, spices.
— 9 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Jimmy Smith
9.2

2011: all varieties. Meaty, lavender, garden herbs, smoky, but still very vibrant red fruit. Lovely vibrancy of red fruit and all Mouvedre and Grenache aromatics. Sweet fruit, juicy acidity, hot indian spice and liquorice. Plum, cherry, spiced. Quite ready now. — 11 years ago

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Doesn't show much age.

Beautiful nose with red and black fruits, chocolates, tobacco leaf, vegetables, forest floor, black tea, earth, coffee, herbs, spices, black pepper and wildflowers.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, currants, oak, light chocolates, coffee, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs and spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a gorgeous 24 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Saint Julien. Rich and elegant. Spicy and very complex. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that is so much fun to drink by itself.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (33% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150.
— 8 months ago

Dave, Ira and 13 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Nice pull @"Odedi"!!
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Very nice!

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Another great drinking older Cali showing red, black fruit, plum with cedar, leather, sweet, savory spice & tobacco leaf — 9 months ago

Paul, Mario and 9 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2015

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 10 months ago

Paul, Dave and 12 others liked this

Spice Route

Chakalaka Red Blend

Nice and spicy... — 5 years ago

L'Ecole No. 41

Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

Spank my ass and call me Sally, this wonderful 2008 hits the spot in aces! Very present, very alive. Pleasure sure! — 7 years ago

Jeff OrlowskiJoe Roth
with Jeff and Joe
Jeff, David and 2 others liked this
Jeff Orlowski

Jeff Orlowski

Hey Sally!

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2011

dark red with white rim variation. Smoky black pepper on the nose, sauvage/animal. Palette sees lots of dirty funky animal/cured meat. Almost bitter finish. — 10 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1988

Davis Smith
9.7

Dark fruit, roasted bell pepper, tobacco. In the zone. — 12 years ago

Brad, The and 2 others liked this

Mollydooker Wines

The Boxer Shiraz 2011

Deep, dark Ruby color with a fruity nose and tons of ripe berries with oaky notes. Jammy big and bold blackberry flavors with some spice, cacao, cedar and leather notes with nice mouthfeel. Big fine tannins with berry fruit carried over to the finish with oak and sweet spice. Nice! — 8 months ago

Juan and Paul liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Château Léoville Poyferré 2014
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinguished Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth) from Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Poyferré has been elevated under the stewardship of the Cuvelier family and Michel Rolland’s consultancy. The 2014 vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. This cooler year yielded wines with notable polish, freshness, and age-worthy structure.  

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive and refined, the bouquet opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and plum, framed by cedar, graphite, violets, and aromatic spice. The palate is layered with ripe red and dark fruits, along with hints of tobacco, pepper, and soft oak—a harmonious reflection of balanced ripeness and terroir depth.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, with smooth yet structured tannins and vivid acidity. The finish is long and mineral-tinged, echoing Saint-Julien’s limestone terroir while expressing both strength and grace.

Winemaking Notes
Vinified traditionally and aged in French oak barrels (predominantly new), the 2014 benefits from meticulous attention to extraction and maturation, resulting in elegant concentration and finesse.  

Food Pairing
Wonderful with roast lamb, herb-crusted beef, or rich mushroom dishes. Decanting for an hour enhances its layered complexity.

Verdict
A classic expression of Left Bank finesse and depth, Château Léoville Poyferré 2014 strikes an artful balance between fruit, structure, and refinement. Enjoy now with decanter or cellar it to explore its evolution over the next decade.Cheers!
— 9 months ago

Ted, ESF and 4 others liked this

Seghesio Family Vineyards

Sonoma County Zinfandel 2022

Mostly Zinfandel with less than 20% of other red varieties blended in. Dark ruby color. Intense aromatics of black currant/berry, black raspberry and plums. Same ripe fruits on the palate with additional flavors of black olive, basil, black pepper and baking spices. Long and lingering finish. Lively tannins and zesty acidity. Bold and powerful but not over the top. Good choice, Keith S! — 2 years ago

Tom, Bob and 6 others liked this

Sogrape Vinhos

Silk & Spice Touriga Nacional-Alicante Bouschet Blend

Pat A
9.1

Nice easy drinking red. $9 a glass as victorias — 5 years ago

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Full red fruit and spice with smoke and woody honey. Smooth as silk. — 8 years ago

Ridge Vineyards

Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2013

Fruity and supple. Some tobacco and a touch of spice. Very accessible. What more is there to say? Consistent, a go to for the price. — 9 years ago

Anthony liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Nose was ripe dark fruit, currant, spices, smoked oak or cedar. Velvet texture with nice dark fruit, licorice, pepper and smoke. Well rounded tannin at the end. Long finish. — 11 years ago