This is a damn fine wine that your lovely friends gave you and it pairs nicely with the end of day relief from the daily grind of working with idiots. It’s juicy with slight woody tones, that one could describe as a Marx/Engels mashup. It compliments late capitalism and the workers struggle.
#paymetodrinkwineinsteadofworking — 6 years ago
This is one of my more interesting Bordeaux stories. I attended the 14 Bordeaux En Primeur largely through the kindness of Clyde Beffa the owner of K&L Wine Merchants. For those of you that aren't familiar with the En Primeur, it's a professional event where you basically barrel taste the new Bordeaux vintage. The 13 vintage we tasted was one of the most difficult vintages in recent times. Perhaps, even more difficult than the 97. Time will certainly tell...it always does! Over the 5 to 6 days I was there, we tasted somewhere between 1000-1500 wines. Not for the faint of heart. Nearly all the 2013 wines we tasted that week were brutally rough tannic wines. It was like coarse sandpaper on the sides of your cheeks, gums and palate. So much that when we went to the Negotiant Joanne and tasted 250 wines over 3 hours, I brushed my teeth at least three times without toothpaste as the tannin build up on the gums etc. was more than one can handle. However, when we went to Chateau Palmer and tasted their second wine (Alter Ego), it was elegant heaven on the palate. We asked ourselves, what had the other producers gotten so wrong that this second wine had gotten so right. It stood out above & beyond the first & second growths wines we tasted that week. Not that those wines in the long haul won't be better in the years to come over the Alter Ego. However, the Alter Ego was elegant relief after so many brutally tannic red wines. It was so soft, elegant and beautiful. Tonight is the first time I've had it since then. It's not as fresh tonight as it was in the Spring of 14 but delicious none the less. This is the only 13 I purchased in futures. Tonight it's showing everything I expected back in the Spring of 14 except the freshness. This is not a wine that will cellar 20 plus years but it will certainly cellar 10 years plus. This 13 would fool many as a new world wine as the fruits are so ripe. The fruits run ripe to dry and are; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, pouched strawberries, spice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, caramel, milk & dark chocolate, dry florals, lavender, dark soil with crushed dry rocks, volcanic minerals, leather, dry stems, The acidity is a little lean. However, the structure & tannins are fairly smooth and the length is beautiful for such a young wine. It still needs some cellaring time to bring forth the complete balance of fruit and earth into harmony. The finish is still a bit dry but at the same time rich and complex. Quite impressive with food and or on it's own. — 7 years ago
Last night Milan dinner. Lovely relief from intense Italian reds, could have been an Oregon Pinot — 9 years ago
Elegant wine maker. Light touch across the board. A refreshing style and a nice relief from the overwrought efforts common in this area. — 9 years ago
Winter relief .... — 10 years ago
After having a glass of sweet McLaren Vale cab franc this was such a relief. Served a little cool the wine is savoury, refreshing and alive. Viva no SO2! — 6 years ago
drinkable fall bliss, paired perfectly as relief with the creeping sorrow about a recent life event. — 7 years ago
Hurricane stress relief ... literally drink this as the waters receded 😳 had bought it to go with a favorite childhood dish of mine country captain, which features some Indian flavors! But it went exceptionally well with this locally made ravioli I saved from the freezer when the power went out. And low and the behold the power came back on just as I pulled out the camp stove! Of course I was at a heightened emotional state but I did think of this drank quite well for the price point. Melon, white flowers & rocks! It was certainly comforting and did go great with the country captain too 😂 — 7 years ago
Really good Bourgogne. Chardonnay in the relief of subtle complexity. '14 white Burgs from good producers are living up to the hype. — 8 years ago
Such a relief to have a red wine blend not follow the current trend of fruit bombs flooding the market. This has black pepper and pencil lead with balanced tannins followed up my long espresso to mocha finish. Picking up a little smokiness and minerality translation through the terrior. Very good on its own but food really balances the whole thing out specifically the roasted tomatoes, bacon and grilled fiesta chicken I had for dinner. The Malbec is a refreshing alternative to the sometimes over ripened Mendoza Malbecs. Chilean Malbec, to me, is like the best of Mendoza & Patagonia while paying homage to Cahors. Gray versatile wine for under $15. — 8 years ago
1985 out of magnum at this day in age is absolutely charming. Both savory and rounded and resonant with camphor, dark fruits of the forest, resinous violin bow rosin, and underscored by the rare structure of a master carpenter underscored by a currant leaf come eucalypt edge that throws all its countless other charms into relief. Oh to embrace every stage as this opens up. A handsome taste of Saint Julien from a legendary house worthy of its renown -and at a delectable place in time served from this format. Seek this out. — 9 years ago
More Chenin relief. — 10 years ago
Animal relief :) — 11 years ago
2015 -
A wonderfully balanced chenin Blanc. Herbaceous and fruity. Muted nose, but intense acidity on the palate. Grassy and pleasant. Actually a relief after too many overblown chenin’s lately. Really delightful! — 6 years ago
Medium ruby core with garnet edges. Aged characteristics on the nose with damp earth, a little espresso, a touch smoky, cinnamon and stewed plums. Medium tannins (6/10) and plus medium body. Dark cocoa on the attack of the palate intermingled with plums, black currants, black cherries and lots of spices. A bit of anise and the Petit Verdot coming through in the medium plus finish. Drink till 2018.
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Starting today we are partnering with Vinlumin in order to raise money for those affected by the wildfires in Northern California earlier this month. Until November 15th or for the first 200 units, Vinlumin will be donating $100.00 per unit to three different Northern California based charities: Napa Valley Disaster Relief Fund, Sonoma Resilience Fund and Mendocino Community Fund. Go to www.vinlumin.com to learn more and to grab one while supporting those affected in Northern California.
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@David L @Ron R @Martin G Rivard @Martin A. Cody @James Cahill @Carl Fischer @Shawn R @Joe Lucca @Bill Bender @Eric S @Isaac Pirolo @TheSkip @Mike R @Lori Mike @Jody Scharf @Jo Anne B @Kim Stanbro @Roman Sukley @Greg Gregory @Sean Smith @Shay Aldriedge — 7 years ago
Jaune clair
Nez de cire d épices de melon et d herbe fraîche
Bouche ample mais sans etre molle
Beaucoup de relief et de la densité en fin de bouche encrée dans la craie
Jolie 2009 sans sucre — 7 years ago
Relief from a painful debate! — 8 years ago
Oh hey you charming Whole Foods (did I just spend way too much there I did!!) wine. You are worth thar beeeay which translates to "you are worth it baby". It's like the shoot I agree to be the comedic relief on that does not pay so much but when I get the footage I'm SO happy to have been a part of. More concrete terms:
At face value: deep almost a-a-red tones on the nose: red fruits especially plums. This one is mostly Grenache and it shows. But in a grand way. — 8 years ago
Absolutely ready to drink - in prime - relief that was not pre-mox condition - really enjoyable - rich and full of body - very nice wine — 8 years ago
Relief!!! True SB.. Deliciously balanced with bright acidity. Subtle tropical fruit notes with generous mineral highlights. 2014 v. — 9 years ago
Oct 9-10, 2014
Charlottesville. ICU relief. — 10 years ago
Some very special winter relief .... — 10 years ago
Velma Cooper
Velma had this 6 years ago