Powder Keg
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989
Joseph Phelps Party. Starting off with the 89 Insignia from 6L.
Notes of stewed fruits; blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, cherries & strawberries. Cola liqueur, steeped tea, limestone minerals, well softened and layered baking spices, menthol, dry herbs, underbrush with withering & fresh bright red & dark florals.
The palate shows similar stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, cherries, strawberries. Cola liqueur, steep tea, limestone minerals, well softened and layered baking spices, menthol, dry herbs, dry top soil, dry rock powder, old to & leather underbrush with withering & fresh bright red & dark florals. Beautiful acidity and a well balanced finish that persists with some dark spice heat.
Photos of, the Phelps party and food spread. — 7 years ago
Château Belle-Vue
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2007
As a Sommelier, it’s interesting to read professional reviews. Something you need to keep up on for what consumers will be looking to buy.
As someone who attends a lot of tastings, you get to get to do your own comparisons. For me, a lot of Bordeaux. It’s my true love. I’ve been to Bordeaux eleven times. Two of them En Premiers.
When I tasted this so called critically difficult/bad vintage from Chateau Belle-Vue, I saw its potential and wasn’t wrong. Now, eleven years later, this wine is singing. While the critics haven’t tasted this wine as recently as this year, they would tell you this wine was average. It is anything but! If I put this wine in a blind tasting, I am confident many would call higher end Napa Cabernet and this is a Bordeaux producer from an ancillary region, under the radar known producer and a difficult vintage.
If I’ve learned anything about wine, it’s in all difficult vintages anywhere, there are producers who still make good wine. This one is magic for around $20 upon release. I’ve had $100 a bottle plus Bordeaux and Napa Cabernet that weren’t this good.
The nose shows, ripe, earthy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, some blueberries & boysenberries and baked plum. Rich, forest floor, steeped black tea, used coffee grounds, limestone minerals, crushed, dry, rock powder, black licorice, hints of herbaceous notes, touch of mushroom, purple flowers, violets and faint lavender.
The body is full, round and lush. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious. The tannins are dark, round, soft, velvety and slightly tarry. Ripe, earthy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, some blueberries & boysenberries and baked plum. Rich, forest floor, steeped black tea, used coffee grounds, tarry notes, limestone minerals, crushed, dry, rock powder, dry top soil & clay, black licorice, dark cocoa powder, cinnamon, dark spice, some vanilla, hints of herbaceous notes, touch of mushroom, graphite, burnt charcoal, suede leather, pipe tobacco, purple flowers, violets, dark red florals and faint lavender. The acidy round & beautiful. The finish is; ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced between fruit & earth and persistent for minutes.
The well know professional critics would tell you this wine is old or late. I will tell you, from my storage, it’s has another 7-10 years of life ahead of it.
Have it with a good butchered Ribeye (not store bought) seasoned with coarse ground garlic salt & pepper.
Photos of, a modest Chateau Belle-Vue, the beautiful backside of the chateau, barrel cellar and Estate vines.
— 7 years ago
Heitz Cellar
Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
The first day this one was in a really weird place. Typical mint, but with a strand of cough syrup running through. Day 2 it blew off and was back to the red fruit, cocoa powder, mint combination I know and love. I saved one glass and let it evolve over the course of the last week. Still going strong -- cherry cola, menthol and a bit maderized. It's a shame Heitz sold this vineyard to Staglin.... — 9 years ago
Realm Cellars
Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Long Shadows Vintners
Sequel Columbia Valley Syrah 2008
Get at it with a knife and fork. Chocolate powder, Black Forest, soy, stout-like tar, licorice and plum jam. Tar-like density on the palate with insane delivery and drive behind it. Tannins have developed an elegance that I was not expecting and it hides its alcohol. Long, long finish on this. — 9 years ago
Azienda Vitivinicola Nervi
Gattinara Nebbiolo
Dark brick red but has excellent clarity. Aromas of violets, moss, tar, maple bacon, cocoa powder and strong ethanol. Medium bodied but extremely high in tannin and acidity. Flavors of cran-grape juice, leather and all those other things on the nose. Finished extremely dry and feeing like you just licked a piece of wood. — 10 years ago
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
Solid example of pedigree from a big time vintage. Showing the grace of age with a few surly notes of youth. Oak firm but starting to fade. Delicate herbal notes starting to show. Tobacco, prune and cocoa powder edging to a loosening core of fruit. — 11 years ago
Jolie-Laide Wines
Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard Trousseau Gris 2014
The Jolie-Laide Trousseau Gris 2014 has the most beguiling, sparkly salmon robe—something not at all apparent from the packaging. I think that makes pouring it a lovely and surprising experience. While the nose is not overtly expressive, I adore the texture of this orange wine, thanks in part to skin contact during a prolonged cold soak, it has marvelous apricot pit notes interspersed with hibiscus flowers, and fine minerality, like talcum powder and a pinch of spice. The finish is extraordinarily long. — 11 years ago
Powder Keg
California Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Really yummy! Armin also enjoyed — 12 years ago
Powder Keg
Demolition Red Red Blend 2009
Red blend I got at Bevmo and love. — 13 years ago
Hendricks Wines
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2014
Charles strikes again.
I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.
It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.
The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.
Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 6 years ago
Caparone Winery
Estate Grown Paso Robles Nebbiolo 2015
As his wine is reputed to age well, it will be interesting to see how it develops over the next 24 hours. Right now, 30 minutes after double decanting, it’s got an intense, almost pungently fruity nose that shows sweet crushed, spiced plums and intense crushed limestone powder. It’s quite old school in the mouth, however. It’s got intense cherry fruit and crushed stone minerality. Lots of very fine—grained tannins and good acids, this wine has a surprisingly long finish. — 7 years ago
Auteur
Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015
PBNJ, cocoa powder, blue and black fruits, capers, licorice. Medium light body. A little big for Oregon. Very nice. — 8 years ago
Hendricks Wines
Gold Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
On the nose, ripe, ruby, fruits of; mulberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries, blueberries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets.
The body is rich, ripe & full. The tannins are a little sticky but well softened, round and a touch chewy. The structure, tension, length, balance, tension and balance are very close to perfect and harmonious. Fruits are; mulberry, huckleberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets. The acidity is round and rains like a waterfall perfectly over the palate. The very long, ruby, rich, well balance lasts minutes and is absolutely heavenly. Gorgeous, elegant, stunning wine.
Photos of; the vertical tasting we attended of all Hendricks Cabernets; 04, 05, 09 & 12 at the time w/ one of our favorite paintings in the background, Charles Hendricks working in the cellar, very old rootstock from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard where the fruit to make this wine normally comes from and a wide shot of the Stag’s Leap Vineyard.
Producer notes and history...Hendricks Cabernet Sauvignon is consistently sourced from a few of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. In those near perfect vintages, Charles only makes a small production wine of around 250-300 cases. Charles only produces it when he has exception fruit. He’s made Hendricks Cabernet in; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 & 2014. Notice he didn’t make Hendricks Cabernet in a great vintage year like 2013. He wasn’t happy enough with his fruit in 2013 to put his name on it. That says a lot and maybe all you need to know about his standard for quality. I do know what wine his 13 fruit made as I’ve had and it’s an unbelievable wine for far less money.
Charles also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands that is really quite amazing. Especially, if you give it 5 or 6 years in bottle. All his wines are sold exclusively through the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville as he is also the Hope & Grace Winemaker.
Charles graduated in 1982 from UC Davis in viticulture. He was also able to tailor his own curriculum and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the basis for his well-rounded winemaking.
Over the years Charles has worked in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, gaining hands on experience in all aspects of winemaking. He has a strong reputation for excellence. In his career, he’s been a consulting winemaker for many wineries; Viader, Barnett Vineyards, Paoletti Vineyards, Regusci Winery, James Cole, T-Vine and Tamayo family Vineyard.
I asked Charles, “how does he make wines that are amazingly good in their youth but will age effortlessly for 15-20 years?” His answer was simply this, “its not that hard, you just have to know the perfect time to harvest fruit.” I would agree with that to a degree. But, you also have to know how to gently guide fruit onto it’s path into the barrel and not get in the wine’s way or overwork the process. — 8 years ago
Pure Cru
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Pick up the last one of these sometime last year for the particular vintage. First time trying this was the 2010, and the 2012 did not disappoint as well. Bright red and dark plum notes, delicious red apple, cocoa powder, and sweet mocha undertones. Racy and delicately structured tannins thoughout, and vibrancy that'll make this bottle age swimmingly. Drinking nicely now, however if you pair it with food, you'll find a pairing that melds perfectly into your cuisine, which is what you want. Can't wait for new vintages!
$44.99 — 10 years ago
Cloudline Cellars
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012
Mulberries and blackberries. Damp earth. Vague dusting of cocoa powder on the finish. Impressively strong, medium-plus finish. Superb value. — 11 years ago
La Ca' Nova
Langhe DOC Nebbiolo 2010
Grippy tannins and cherry with mocha powder. Delicious with a variety of food — 11 years ago
Stolpman Vineyards
Estate Grown Santa Ynez Valley Syrah 2011
Smells old world, tastes new world. Black pepper, baby powder. Full layered body. — 12 years ago
Donnachiara
Taurasi Aglianico
Deep, dark ruby coloration. On the nose, cocoa powder, spice, prune and cherry. On the palate, medium to full body, cherry, strawberry, leather, chocolate and a long finish dominated by chocolate notes. Still exhibiting strong tannins. — 6 years ago
Château Pontet-Canet
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.
The fruits are dark & muted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, plums with strawberries come on late. Lots of moist clay, dry soils, deep dark spice, crushed, rock powder, graphite, black, dry soils, hints of green bell pepper, dry herbs with blue, dark withering flowers. The acidity is round but could be better. The long finish is balanced but, for me, comes up short and a little flat.
Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 7 years ago
Valdicava
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2005
Updating notes from 29 weeks ago.
On the nose, macerated & baked; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, plum, strawberries with raspberries painting the background. Mocha, vanilla, dark chocolate, fruit liqueur notes, dark rich soil, limestone minerals, fresh & decayed red florals with bright fresh field of blue & red floral florals with violets.
The palate is elegant, rich and full. The tannins nicely softened & resolved. 60-65% resolved. There is nice; soften structure, very good balance with excellent length. The fruits are; ruby ripe blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, blue fruit mix, black raspberries, plum, creamy raspberries and hint of strawberries. The red florals & violets really shine through on the palate as well. Sweet tarry notes, dark fruit liqueur, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, some black licorice, limestone minerals, iron, tarry notes, smoke, used leather, cigar with ash, touch of dry stems, pinch of herbaceousness, dark spices, dry clay, loamy dry top soil, dry crushed rock powder, just hint of white pepper, blue & dark red florals, lavender with violets, good round acidity and a long, elegant, balanced finish that lasts minutes.
Better with a good meat sauce pasta than pizza. Slightly overpowered our pizza tonight. But, still delicious.
Photos of; the backside of Valdicava, one of their vineyards and Valdicava winery owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese.
Brunello’s take years to come around and why Italians hold them extra year(s) over other varietals/regions in bottle. It’s ten years before good Brunello producers wines are truly enjoyable; which is why I still have so many in hibernation. Drink through 2025. — 8 years ago
Gibson Wines
Old Vine Collection Shiraz 2002
Classic aged wine. Smooth, light mineral and bubblegum feel with back soy and hoisin sauce taste. Abit sweet. Chalky and talcum powder after long decant — 8 years ago
Domaine Drouhin
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2014
Enigmatic as all Véronique Boss-Drouhin's wines are, the 2014 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir boasts freshness and poise in a ripe vintage year. Crushed lavender, cocoa powder, dried mint, underbrush, and an alluring array of red fruits lead into a wine that is medium-bodied and neatly trussed in fine tannins. White pepper and earth emerge at the close. Sample — 9 years ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
It's really nice but needs a lot more time in bottle. It's Achilles heal is that shows some green...issues with fully ripening. Dark cassis; blackberries, black plum, caramel, dark cherries, dark chocolate, mocha powder, rich moist black earth, leather, dry florals, bramble, nice acidity, it's ripe and elegant but shows the flaws of the 12 vintage. It will be interesting to see if this over achieves down the road as it does show that potential. — 10 years ago
Hyde De Villaine
Belle Cousine Hyde Vineyard Red Blend 2011
2011 vintage on April 24 @ HdV. Dried chile powder on nose and tongue. Very distinctive @ front then fades to cherry in moderate linger. This vintage the only one which was only 10% merlot. — 10 years ago
Lacoste-Borie
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
Turbid, deeply concentrated, blue black core saturated to a thin garnet rim. Medium plus intensity of ripe fruit, fresh florals, and dried herbs. Black currant dominates with layers of lilac, green bell pepper, cocoa powder, toast, black pepper and graphite. A dry wine with medium plus body, smooth texture, medium acid, refined forward moving astringency, a touch o viscosity, well integrated high alcohol 13.5% throws no heat. Concentrated, mouth filling lilac perfume precedes a long lasting black currant, black pepper finish. Bitterness noted but low. A well balanced, complex wine although a little confusing with Syrah due to the color and concentration of black pepper that lingers on the finish. Classic Bordeaux aromas with ripe but balanced new world styling. — 11 years ago
Eric Bordelet
Nouvelle Vague Sidre
Does it get any better than a keg of Bordelet? — 13 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Decanted for nearly four hours.
Cornmeal crust pizza w/ our fresh ingredients over a feta cheese, spinach & tomato base w/ a good 10 year old plus Chianti Classico, I’m all in!
$30…I’m happy.
This has a beautiful, round, lush body w/ early, nice integration on the beginning drinking window. Sweet & slightly sour black cherries, blackberries, plum, blueberries mix of boysenberries & raspberries, dark melted chocolate, mocha powder, well crafted baking spices, leather, mix of fresh & dark tobacco, dry, crushed limestone, dark spice, black olive, expresso notes, mid cola, black licorice, dry twigs, dry herbs, incense, touch of grilled meats, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, moist, grey clay, candied florals that are fresh to slightly withering & dark, purple, blue with excellent acidity, excellent balance & length and a rich polished finish that settles on volcanics & dry earthiness.
Really enjoying the 10 vintage. — 5 years ago