Real World Wines

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1970

Haut Brion! Viva Bistro du Marche! Viva World Cup bets!!!! 🇫🇷🍷 — 7 years ago

Stacey Silk GroffPeter PhillipsPaul Farrell
with Stacey, Peter and 19 others
Mick, Peter and 3 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1940

What a beautiful person inside and out! I'm blessed beyond measure to be able to call him "Dad". Words can't adequately express how much I Love him. We opened a few bottles last night that I will hold near and dear to my heart forever. We are celebrating his completion of 6 rounds of chemo therapy in his battle against Prostate cancer. This is his 3rd time in the ring against this opponent and it appears that he's won with a unanimous decision by knockout at this time!!!!!! Love you dad!!!!! So proud of your strength through this process. My Father was born in 1940. A difficult year to say the least:
Germans entered Bordeaux in June of 1940. As dictated by Hitler himself, it was the sworn duty of each and every commander to search and seize whatever could be used for the advancement of the German cause. Bedlam broke out. Chateaux' were ransacked, wine cellars were looted if not used for target practice. The Chateauxs were forced to continue producing wines. It's poetic justice that Mother Nature provided the Germans with the worst growing season from 1940 to 1944!!!! The Germans left Bordeaux in 1944 to the cheers of the residents "Au Revoir Les Allemands"!!!! The 1940 bottle that we enjoyed this evening survived World War II. It Survived the ransacking, pillaging & plunder of countless German soldiers. It's outer capsule showed evident signs of its struggle but it's inner beauty was unblemished and glorious. I've had many, many vintages of Latour from 1928 and on but none have ever tasted as perfect as the one we enjoyed tonight. This 1940 was perfect. It was a fighter, it never gave up, it never relinquished in the face of adversity. That's my Father, that my role model. He's a beautiful person inside & out. I think 1940 is the best vintage that I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. Special thanks to my good friends Michael Troise whom provided me with much of the insights in regards to the incredibly difficult vintage and David Page whom gifted this bottle to me for our celebration this evening. I will never forget your generosity. It was a glorious evening to say the least!!! Wine has a way of bringing people together and encapsulating an evening and event. I couldn't think of a better way to rejoice in his victory than to open a Father & Son birth year wine.
— 8 years ago

Ryan CallahanChristine Joey Stein
with Ryan, Christine and 1 other
Martin, Stanley and 72 others liked this

Bodegas Riojanas

Monte Real Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 1973

Paul Costigan
9.5

1973: Beautiful bottle. Wines like this make everyone stop and take notice. The color was clear and light. Arresting nose full of plums and roasted beets. The depth of flavor and long finish was in contrast with the appearance. Really a fine experience, only second to the few times I had the 1952 Mont Real. — 9 years ago

Barry Herbst
with Barry
Eric liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2002

Spectacular wine made in a not so spectacular vintage. This one shows real class of the wine making team — 10 years ago

Anthony, David and 1 other liked this

Viña Real (CVNE)

Plata Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Dark berries and a hint of orange peel, with a little graphite and stone. Medium acidity and tannins. Very good value, which is typical of the wines I’ve had from this producer. — 7 years ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1975

Sushi and Champagne is one of my favorite combinations. Indeed, almost all celebrations that @Cara Zimmerman and I enjoy together will include this duo. This was somewhat of a step up from our norm as Sushi Zo is a world apart from our usual delivery order of tuna and salmon rolls (with free edamame). Likewise this 1975 DP was rather more elevated than our weekly fizz.

Dark golden color with rich, brioche and mature elements. A touch too advanced but enormously attractive and retaining terrific purity and energy. Sushi and Champagne has rarely been such a treat.
— 8 years ago

Cara ZimmermanDaniel Moritz
with Cara and Daniel
Cara, Shay and 8 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2002

Did a 20 year vertical. It was a moment of zen. Did it with friends, even better... And had a really cool som walk us through every year. World class. Thanks CD — 9 years ago

Santa Rita

Gran Reserva Medalla Real Colchagua Valley Carmenere 2012

Lovely rich smokey and smooth. Majestic France — 9 years ago

Viña Real (CVNE)

Rioja Tempranillo 1981

Completely wonderful. Top of its game, not going any longer. Wonderful sherry oxidative notes. Flora and light. — 10 years ago

Jason liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1985

Out of this world good. Softened, with brioche and delicate acidity but great persistence. Really, really good — 10 years ago

Matt LichtenbergDavid McNally
with Matt and David
David McNally

David McNally

Wine of the night - a creme fraiche dried apricot roasted pear sandwich on toasted brioche with grated Meyer lemon peel on top. As good as champagne gets. Out of magnum!!!
10

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2009

Showed great tonight. A bit more savory than last time I tasted it and aromatics were more old world...still had classic Hirsch strawberry but more going on since last visit... — 11 years ago

Santa Rita

Gran Reserva Medalla Real Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Big and brooding. Plum, currant, toasty oak, vanilla, and mocha notes. I have long been a big fan of the Medella Real Gran Reserva. Relatively easy to find. Great price. Always reliable. It’s one of those wines that will appeal to both the newly-initiated and experienced tasters. I also love that it’s so multifaceted. You can drink it alone or with a burger, and it has enough structure to pair with a steak. You won’t go wrong always having some of this on hand. — 7 years ago

Bodegas Riojanas

Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 1964

At first we thought it was corked. After about an hour it started kicking off and probably with more time would even excel. Black and red cherry notes with earthy - leathery spices. Light, soft and balanced tannins. High rate for its age. — 8 years ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1962

Sooooooo.. yeah. That happened. For real. First any d'yquem is cause for celebration. One significantly older than you is cause for alarm. Also from 375ml, so i would surmise "fully mature". Slight seepage, go figure, and during a cork test I got some movement out of it, so decided it was go time.

Note it was apparently still doing its job, the som got it out with my Durand in one piece. And yes. I will bring my Durand to a restaurant with old bottles for corkage because why would I want the poor som to go nuts and lose his mind with a screw-pull?

Colour was dark. Castrol gtx20-50 (used) with definite fading to amber. Reddish tones nearly through out. Browny honey y orangey colour as a whole, and remarkably dark.

Nose was intoxicating. As always. Very... bright. Alive. The aromas and high tones betrayed the dark colour. Honey, apricots, creme brulee scents poured forth readily, and i regret choosing to not give this wine a half hour in the decanter prior to consuming. Thicker than a regular white wine, but not like oil.

Still had some acidity. Texture was other worldly. Initial tastes were peary honey botritis fruity, and those faded to more stone fruit, apricots, honey comb, i swear light aromas of orange blossoms. We lingered with this for about an hour, well worth the time.

Oct 19, 2016. Abc cocina, Manhattan ny.
— 9 years ago

Gil liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1994

Exceptional wine. World class. Great with prime rib dinner. — 9 years ago

S ChristovichRich BluthAnn McGLONE
with S, Rich and 1 other
S and Rich liked this
Rich Bluth

Rich Bluth

Amazing, subtle balance without peer.
S Christovich

S Christovich

Outstanding!! Thanks Mike and Rich.

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

Needs a couple of hours of decanting. A real privilege to drink this wine. @ Copine with Shaun and Jill. — 11 years ago

Jill Kinney
with Jill

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2011

85% Sangiovese, 10% CS, and 5% CF. Ingredients of the original Super Tuscan. Dried herbs, dark fruit, leather. Very well balanced. Give it a few more years and it will rock your world! — 11 years ago

Beau and Serge liked this

Bodegas Faustino

Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2001

Just won best Rioja in the world! — 11 years ago

Kaitlin liked this