Piggy Bank

Materra

Right Bank Napa Valley Merlot Blend 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2021 “Right Bank” pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black and red fruits: blackberries, plums, chocolate covered cherries, purple flowers, some vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Drink now through 2031. — 10 months ago

Vanessa, Douglas and 4 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Le nez prend un peu de temps à se placer, nez assez classique de rive-gauche par la suite, ne montre aucune fatigue, superbe texture, une finale longue et savoureuse, très beau. 92-93

The nose needs some air, the cork was wet with some aromas of wet cardboard at first but things got for the better after with no apparent defect and a classic left bank nose. Gorgeous balanced Cos, not the most powerful at this point but gracious, showing no fatigue also with a long delicious finish.

— 4 years ago

Juan, Brent and 24 others liked this

Neil Ellis

The Left Bank Red Blend 2014

Dark and supple. Taste of blackberries with mild black pepper aroma. Virtually no tannins it’s smooth to sip or pair with something light ... or even pizza. 😊 casual, unpretentious and tasty. — 5 years ago

Round Pond Estate

Estate Proprietary Left Bank Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

This was quite flavorful and interesting. It had some jam, blackberry, hints of leather and smoke. It had a nice mouthfeel and a medium finish. All in all this was the standout of the night, but still young. — 6 years ago

Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards

Right Bank Napa Valley Red Blend 2001

The original year. Still delivering. Soft subtle tannins packed with Cab Franc tootsie roll goodness. — 7 years ago

Shay liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

This ”left bank” Bordeaux eludes a sophisticated sexiness from start. In the glass, it’s inky, dense, purple intimidates you at first, but the silky, well balanced full bodied with soft tannins puts your mouth at ease. From the nose to finish, it is apparent that it had spent a substantial amount of time in French Oak. Notes of cassis, black cherry on the palate add a chocolate mole as it begins to breathe, with a finish reminiscent of those Welch’s Strawberry Fruit Snacks (in a great way) on a lengthy finish. Pairs great with a smoked Gouda, but almost equally as good alone. While the $150 price May scare you away, it is worth every penny. Savor every sip! — 7 years ago

Meagan Hopf
with Meagan
Dawn and Brian liked this

Château Canon-la-Gaffelière

Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Really fun bottle and in surprisingly good shape. First time having an old right bank. Had it next to the 1996 Dominus, which would be my preference. — 7 years ago

Kamal Shah
with Kamal

Young Inglewood Vineyards

Right Bank Blend 2020

Elegant, restrained. Medium bodied. — a year ago

Shay liked this

Lobo Hills

Right Bank Red Blend 2020

Really good, easy drinking cab blend. And easy on the wallet - $19 from a nearby neighborhood store. — 3 years ago

Langmeil

Orphan Bank Barossa Shiraz 2017

Decantered for 2 hours, low tanins, not too acidic. Big, bold, smooth. — 4 years ago

Nick Goldschmidt

Boulder Bank Fitzroy Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Very fruity and smooth. For adams bday dinner at Chives 2020 — 5 years ago

Château Giscours

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

This is a very aromatic Left Bank Bordeaux, with a great fruity nose and great complexity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, dark chocolates, vinaigrette, coffee, black pepper and spices.

Drinking nicely now and will be better in 5 years.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries, with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.


This 9 year old has good aging potential of another 15 to 20 years.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show all that complexity.

I paired it with Brie cheese and Italian meats.

Robert Parker 93 points.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit verdot.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$120.
— 7 years ago

Shay, Brandon and 39 others liked this

Château L'Eglise-Clinet

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Powerful, dark, brooding. Primary early in the decant, but later opened up to smoke, chocolate, and licorice. A well made old world right bank that was still a bit austere but paired well with French duck. — 7 years ago

Kiley Durham
with Kiley

Château La Conseillante

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Shay A
9.4

Wonderful evening at the City Club courtesy of Jeff’s hosting at the Friday group. Cellar guessing Jeff is a dangerous game as he’s the type who plans to throw curveballs! All wines served blind.

Spice and white pepper on the nose. So much so that I guessed it was a Cab Franc Blend. Wasn’t peppery enough to be Loire valley, but I guessed it was a Cab Franc/merlot based right bank blend based on the leather and dusty cherry notes. Well, I was fairly close! Great wine.
— 7 years ago

Dan Fitzgerald
with Dan
Paul, Jason and 45 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

I had this a week ago but didn’t take any notes at all at a friends tasting last Sunday afternoon. Have always been a huge fan of Dominus and this was from an exceptional vintage. I recall an excellent left bank Cabernet dominant style but presented as a Napa style - rich and plush but not overly so. Thoroughly enjoyable. — a year ago

Jan, Tom and 27 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium garnet, the 2001 Château Léoville Barton is an archetype for cooler vintage, aristocratic left bank Bordeaux. It offers well-defined aromas of blackcurrant, dried black cherry, wood spice, mushroom, forest floor, tobacco and gravel. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is dominated by a massive tannin structure, excellent fruit concentration and a long, persistent finish. Drink now until 2030. — 3 years ago

Tom, Anthony and 8 others liked this

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 left bank tasting Le Vineur. Alive, bit green, cigar, tobacco, silky, lacks bit of depth but still very enjoyable. Rather prefer the 89... — 5 years ago

Peter, Josh and 5 others liked this

Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Seemed a little lacking concentration vs the other bordeaux in the lineup...still very juicy and offering a more black fruit vs the left bank bottles we had. Nice silky tannins — 5 years ago

Josh, David and 8 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

1995 vintage. Still deep purple red, subtle earthy leather aromas with a burst of fresh red raspberries mid palate. Lots of herbal hints like anise and tarragon. Finished with graphite and iron. Changed with each sip. Very nice mature and fully approachable left bank beauty. — 7 years ago

Trixie liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Tonight I have the pleasure of tasting the 2012 Château Montrose Saint-Estèphe. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

The nose has beautiful aromas of black currant, black cherry, blackberry, rose's, mushroom, pencil shavings, herbs, eucalyptus and mocha.

A very expressive palate of black currant, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, black pepper and green bell pepper.

This wine is full bodied with a silky smooth mouth feel, medium + acidity and medium + mouth coating tannins that extend out to a long clean dark fruit finish. A captivating wine to say the least and just another example of a left bank Bordeaux done right from Château Montrose. Enjoy your weekend and may your December be very eventful. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
— 7 years ago

Mike, Neil and 26 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

I have a 12’ in my cellar burning a hole in my pocket. Cheers!
Daniel P. Drake

Daniel P. Drake Influencer Badge

@Neil Valenzuela you have at least another 5-10 more years to let it burn. 😄
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

@Daniel P. Drake - I don’t think it will last. Thanks for the amazing review.