Prior De Pantón
R. López de Heredia
Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1970
Domaine Didier Fornerol
Côte de Nuits Villages Pinot Noir 2018
Such a nice wine at this $$$ level. A wine & producer that I have purchased by the case every year since being introduced to this at la Paulee. Plenty of material here that will reward cellaring. Consistent with my prior notes. — 2 years ago
Domaine Jamet
Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012
Great vintage for Jamet. Consistent with my many prior notes showing dark fruits with a polished & silky texture — 3 years ago
Domaine Julien Cruchandeau
Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé Blend
A solid case buy on most vintages, can't really go wrong here. 🤯 NV(2018) Pinot Noir Crémant; please see my prior notes. — 4 years ago
Roederer Estate
L'Ermitage Brut Anderson Valley Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2007
Nose has crusty baked apple, toasted oats, fresh brioche, creamed butter, washed lemon and day old popcorn.
Palate has freshly baked bread, lemon zest, juiced lemon, chopped hazelnut (roasted), faint vanilla, (minor) dried blackcurrant with light saline minerality on the medium finish.
A good bottle, but consistent with all our prior 2007's, slightly underwhelming in comparison to shoulder vintages. Plenty of life in this to easily see a 20th birthday. ~$38 — 4 years ago
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Poured into a decanter about two hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a lovely mix of dark and red fruits, cassis, black and red brambles, tobacco, eucalyptus, leather, cedar box, green herbs, some cocoa, and beautiful baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The texture is silky, in fact, down right sexy. Brilliantly balanced. This is a profoundly sensual wine and one of the best young Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve had in many years. These will age for a very long time and I can only imagine how epic the 2021 Terrace Select is going to be. Drink now with an extended decant and through 2051+. — 7 months ago
Sinegal Estate
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Chalk Hill
Estate Bottled Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc with 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas (prior to ‘18 vintage some Semillon added). Pale lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! Very consistent! — 3 years ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004
Presented blind alongside three other red wines; another Bordeaux and two Bordeaux blends from CA. All wines were descanted and returned to the bottle 8 hours prior.
This wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity. Medium+ intensity. The nose was a mix of red and dark fruits with currants and cherries, tobacco, pencil shavings, earth, espresso and baking spice. There’s just a whiff of a barnyard in the distance too. On the palate, again the mixed fruit set with beautifully ripened blackberries and black cherries, currants, earth, coffee and baking chocolate. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Finishes looooooong, dry and immensely satisfying.
The wine is balanced and leans towards its structure. I called 2004 Latour. The soaring aromatics were simply incredible. I just wanted to spend the entire evening with my nose buried in the glass. This is squarely in the drinking window yet has many years left in it. Drink now with an extended decant or enjoy over the next 10-15 years. — 4 years ago
Lewelling Vineyards
Wight Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Prior notes apply. This ranks as one of the very best Napa cabs in the less than $100 range - we just love this stuff. — 4 years ago
Marcel Lapierre
Morgon Gamay 2021
Nice nose. Crunchy. Bright red fruit. Spice pepper on finish. Better than prior bottles. Slight funk. — 10 months ago
Château Gruaud Larose
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
Classic vintage for GL that is drinking well mirroring my many prior notes — 2 years ago
François Mikulski
Charmes Meursault 1er Cru Chardonnay 2017
Love this Meursault producer! Consistent with my prior notes. — 3 years ago
Boundary Breaks Vineyard
Finger Lakes Dry Rose Blend 2018
Similar to prior notes:
Nose has Maraschino cherry juice, mashed strawberry/banana and red delicious apple peel.
Palate has sweet strawberry, banana peel, ripe red currant and light green herb notes.
The wine is 100% DeChaunac, a more common varietal for colder climates, like Ontario; fruit is sourced locally (FLX region) from Sheldrake Point. — 4 years ago
Domaine Berlancourt
Cuvée Les Champans Bourgogne Pinot Noir Rosé 2016
Prior notes apply; fruit is lightly fading, but this is still an elegant and sophisticated lady.
Nose has strawberry, roses, cut tangerine, juiced Clementine and dry earth.
Palate is strawberry-tangerine (light), wet minerals, so much finesse, yet light in the mouth, just stunning.
Our final bottle of the vintage. — 4 years ago
Jay Kline
Poured into a decanter maybe an hour prior to service. The 1970 Tondonia Gran Reserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and absolutely brilliant with a mix of desiccated and ripe fruits: dried Morello and Montmorency cherry, cocoa powder, mushrooms, old leather bound books, an entire cabinet full of dried herbs and spices, a memory of barnyard and a deciduous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with good structure still: medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and makes me believe there is something bigger than us in this life. This bottle, on this afternoon, gives the confidence to embrace the mystery. Drink now with an hour of air but I get the sense this is one of those Energizer Bunny wines… — 6 months ago