Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

This Right Bank Bordeaux is bright Ruby red, from a blend of Merlot (80%), rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Fresh red fruit with cedar spice aromas. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with some cacao and licorice notes, adding oak and mineral tones. Fine tannins, medium finish, good balance with fruit, ending with smoky oak character, drink now on the younger side, no real benefit from long-term aging. — 4 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.8

Over the Easter weekend I opened for friends the 2015 Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley St. Helena, California a blend of 89%Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Other.

I let decant for at least an hour on the nose there was black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, cedar, spice, roses, crushed gravel and earth.

On the palate there was black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, licorice, mint, sandalwood, crushed gravel and earth.

This wine was rated 100 by both Jeb Dunnick and Wine Advocate whom I respect highly and can totally understand their exuberance for this wine but I couldn't make it quite there. I found that this is full bodied with a freshness and smooth mouthfeel medium + to high acidity and medium + high grainy crunchy tannins that gives a beautiful long dark fruit gravelly earthy finish. An eceptional wine by any means and I am glad to have a few more at rest in my cellar for this wine has many years to continue to develop. Our Easter weekend was one of excitement and exuberance where we had a baby shower on Saturday for our daughter who is expecting the last week of May first week of June which will be our second grandchild. Easter day we spent with family and friends which the day was spectacular. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend and I wish everyone a wonderful week ahead. Please stay safe and healthy with peace to all. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Mike R

9.6

What happens when you place a well made cab to rest for five years - magic - I had this wine when the wine first came out / it was good but just need some time to mellow - mellow if did - wow this wine is drinking well and a pnp - maybe 5 more years but don’t sit on them for a long time - color out the bottle was deep rich purplish red and swirled in the glass and the smell was delightful- just elegant yet jammy fruits inviting your nose for another deep inhale - the taste was delicious and rich - black and refreshing currants with creamy textures - but the finish was exotic - loved ever 20-30 seconds of it - all smiles last night with my friend @R Bowers — 7 years ago

with R

Matt Perlman

9.3

One of the very few Tuscans I reliably enjoy...love the high toned, exuberant cherry and hibiscus tinged with fresh herbs. A fresh, aromatic and lively take on Sangiovese. A “Super Tuscan” that is actually worthy of the title. Maybe I should give the rest of the region more of a chance...*thinks*...naahhhh — 8 years ago

Rakesh Tondon

9.4

Love the nose on this. This is like a burgundy — 9 years ago

Lisa Evans

9.8

Wow, this wine takes me back to wine tasting at Arista. While it is still so young, the smells and flavors that you experience while drinking it, take you right back.... lovely!! — 9 years ago

with Rob

Daniel P. Drake

9.4

Over the weekend we had the pleasure of opening the 2020 Domaine De La Côte Bloom's Field Pinot Noir from Lompoc, California.

On the nose there is cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cinnamon, clove, baking spice and dry dusty earth.

On the palate there is cherry, strawberry, raspberry, spice, hibiscus, vanilla and forest floor.

This wine is medium bodied with a smooth fresh mouthfeel medium + mouthwatering acidity and medium fine tannins that lead to a long red fruit earthy finish. On this Wednesday heading over the hump towards the weekend let us all remember all the good things that we have and family and friends we dearly cherish. Have an exciting rest of your week in hopes the weekend will refresh our hearts. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from some of CVNE's best vineyards in the Rioja Alta (85% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! Tried several bottles! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale yellow with pleasing aromas of citrus and sweet peaches. One of the few barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc's which adds a wonderful toasty oak flavor setting this wine apart from the rest. Complex palate of flavors, fresh fruit, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, Asian pears and baked apple with tea and spicy acidity. Slight herb notes with a smooth and creamy well balanced finish ending with a gentle sweet character. A Fav! — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has lightly oxidized yellow apple peel, wet seashells, freshly cut pear, light creamy oak, fresh lemon pith and light honey.

Palate has light salinity, lemon skin, honey on oak slab and under-ripe peach.

Beautiful wine, great (medium) acidity, yet still young. Likely this will benefit with another 4-6 years of rest. Oliver Lamy is one of the best Saint-Aubin producers, and this bottle is proof, chaotic vintage and still shining.

Decanted ~3hr. Easter 2019. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Deep, dark extracted fruit. The nose on this one is initially black licorice, a hint of truffle, dark fruit and chocolate. As this wine opened up, it started to develop a LOT of dark, deep blackberry and mulberry. The middle of this wine is dark, deep, black cherry notes start to develop but also an herb note. This is a thick and dense wine. Finishes still with quite a bit of stiff tannin and some acidity. I think that this wine is still developing in bottle, and if you've got one of these, please rest assured that it is just now starting to get to peak, but probably won't be there with a 2-hour decant until closer to 2020. This basically means that my 2012 and 2013 needs to hang out for about 5-6 years before they are anywhere close to ready. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Keith

SV

9.3

Honeysuckle, beeswax, chamomile and lemon curd nose. The acid hits first and then evolves into underripe peach, and pith, and aromatic citrus like yuzu or pomelo. A wine that makes you want to stick your nose in the glass and rest your forehead on the rim to enjoy. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Mid 20th century fashionable country resort, popular with Hollywood due to 1892 stone Manor House & historic gardens. Blend of 81% Cab Sauv, 11% Merlot, 4% Malbec, rest other Rhone varieties, aged 20 months in 37% new French oak. Dark Ruby, aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs & spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry & black currant with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Well balanced, fine tannins long finish ending with fruit, espresso notes and sweet spice! Nice now and will drink well over next decade. — 4 years ago

Carlos Gonzalez

9.6

Wowza. Subtle greatness. Decanted for 3 hrs. Very ripe for the vintage. 75% Cab the rest Cab Franc and Merlot. Could drink this all night. — 4 years ago

Michelle Connely

9.0

Consumed 01/2020. Received in a shipment but not sure when. I am afraid I have cellared it for too long. The cork broke off and I made a mess getting the cork out so that I could strain it into a decanter. The wine stains are evident on the label.. They use for varietals to make this. At the time that it was released it was phenomenal. But now that I have kept it too long, I would say not as good. I need to drink the rest of it pretty quickly. 14.1% alc/vol.  — 6 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.2

I don't know why none mentioned a strong and sweet currant nose (blackcurrant or red currant - I won't argue). It striked me hard. The rest: a subtle leather, The palate is mild, I expected some pepper, but I found a chocolate. The finish is short. A nice beginning of the New Year's Eve. — 6 years ago

Paty Garza

9.4

La MESA rest Cesar Palace LV — 7 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

Good blend just like previous vintages. Lower rating because I think the wine hasn’t integrated enough yet and needs at least two more years of rest. — 7 years ago

edward Simpson

9.4

Purchased after a visite, Sept 2017, was excellent then and for a first excellent when sampled back home, lovely berries, soft tannins, almost note of graphite, of the terroir, lovely 4th Growth, so happy with the visit and purchase...will lay the rest down... — 9 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.9

2002 Cariad. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. Dark purple in color with a little brickiness on the rim. Opulent and sexy old world bouquet of graphite, smoke, Blackberry liqueur and expresso roast. Yet another one of those wines that I could swirl and contemplate into the evening. On the palate, dark berry, sage, cedary tobacco leaf and loamy earth flavors, along with Asian spices, duck sauce and exotic herbs and spices. Rich and intense with silky tannins. Beautiful structure. Intense. Complex. Elegant. Ethereal is the word I'm searching for. Endless finish. Just sensational. I stopped buying California Cabernet as I was simply priced out of the market. I had to choose, and I went with my main man Manfred and never have looked back. But whenever I taste one of these gems from my favorite Cabernet producer, @anncolgin and @colgincellars, I'm reminded of how compelling a truly great California Cabernet can be. — 9 years ago