Rita's Earth

R. López de Heredia

Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 3. The 2011 “Bosconia” pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of sour cherry, dill, leather, dried earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium++ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, elegant and leans towards the bitter side of the spectrum. Good on its own but I think these really excel with food. I’ve probably covered this before in previous TN’s but the wines of LdH might not be for everyone but I find them to be truly special and while there tends to be quite a bit of variation, they are always full of soul. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 5 months ago

Ely, Shay and 12 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Celebrating with a couple of fun bottles tonight. 2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A stunning dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: lightly fragrant notes of stewed red fruit, cassis, floral, little cigar box, herbaceous. Taste: silky, elegant, soft wine with a great mix of dark plum, currants, iron, scorched earth, tobacco, and cedar/bitter chocolate medium plus finish. YUM! Drinks well with the decant and more time to go. — 7 months ago

Brenda, Shay and 23 others liked this

Rare Earth Wines

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Lori K
9.2

Todd really likes, great vanilla and current blend, good mouth feel — 8 months ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 10 months ago

Bob, Daniel P. and 18 others liked this

Sandhi Wines

Rita's Crown Chardonnay 2014

Paul J
9.6

Awesome! Cork appeared soaked through but didn’t seem to impact the wine. Rich flavors of butter, cream, and vanilla. Very white burg like. Great QPR! — 2 years ago

Tom, Shay and 4 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991

Dark tawny with some purple in the center. Opaque but bright. Killer nose. Notes of rich black cherries, plums, cracked walnuts, earth and a little eucalyptus. Medicinal. Ripe. In the mouth it’s velvet glove with what it touches and lush. Minute long finish. This is the whole package. — 6 years ago

Shay, Severn and 9 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nice! I'm sitting on a '96, waiting to open with a buddy.

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Intense cherries and cassis aromas. Dark Cherry, Plum and Blackberry flavors with hints chocolate, earth and leather. Dark color and chewy tannins. Well balanced. Thanks for sharing, Keith — 7 years ago

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Mitzi Inglis
9.3

The year we were married. This is great bottle. Earth, leather, tobacco and fruit. #dunnvineyards — 8 years ago

Anthony, Steve and 1 other liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2006

Cloves, herbs, meat, earth, some sweet fruit. Young but very good. The 2006. — 9 years ago

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 1988

An earth driven nose with overtones of garrigue. This wine was terroir driven vs fruit driven. Compared to the other vintages I found this wine benefited the least from air. — 9 years ago

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2008

Drinking beautifully. Blackberry, strawberry, musky earth, pepper, anise. Should hold just fine — 5 months ago

Lyle, Serge and 6 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2020

John W
9.2

Deep dark ruby coloration. On the nose, cherry. Blackberry, earth, and currants. On the palate, full bodied, cherry, chocolate, oak and vanilla. Medium to longer finish. — 6 months ago

Joe, Ericsson and 7 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Decant and pour. A wondrous garnet color with bricking. On the nose: captivating nose of dark plum, wet forest floor, herbaceous, spice, some funky barnyard. Taste: dark plum, cedar, earth, pencil lead, and a spiced green bell pepper/tobacco medium plus finish with a moderately tight tannic kick....drinks like a younger Bordeaux. — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Shay and 14 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2005

A very nice showing from a somewhat overseen vintage of Sassicaia. It is a very elegant, fragrant yet full bodied wine that is really showing it’s best sides today. Complex and balanced. Currants, flowers, earth, spice and a mineral and fresh finish. — 8 months ago

Ira, Edward and 2 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with earth, vanilla, cedar, leather, licorice, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, spices and dark chocolates.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

What a great Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Saint Julien.

This gorgeous wine feels much younger than it is right now. Complex and tasty.

This 18 year old will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 4 hours in the decanter.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Wine Advocate 97 points.

Thank you Robbie for sharing this with me.

The 2005 vintage was outstanding, and it's really shining through right here.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot. Aged in 100% new French oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$325.
— a year ago

Shay, Ted and 31 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1999

1999. Beautifully showing. Nice balance of fruit, earth, and freshness. Pretty finish. — 6 years ago

Kevin liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 6 years ago

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

David T
9.3

Rich ripe to dry dark cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate with brewed coffee and dark warm wet earth. Showing nicely. — 7 years ago

Evan, Paul and 12 others liked this
Paul T- Huntington Beach

Paul T- Huntington Beach

Finally one I've had, 2009 or 10?🤔

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1954

What a treat. From the company to the antics of the cork removal, all was fantastic. Not surprised with some immediate mustiness on the nose, giving way to a rich but smooth aged blue cheese, mushrooms, soy sauce, earth, and just a faint hint of dried red fruit. Over the next 20 minutes the glass development was out of control, changing with each and every whiff and sip. Earthy umami, oxidative, and and slightly stewed reds to begin quickly opened to nice dried strawberries on the palate and nose, and advancing to moderately subdued ripened strawberries and cranberries- after 61 years and still kickin with fruit! Amazing. Then after about 20 minutes of rapid metamorphosis, it gave in and decided to fade to a very pleasant sipper...awesome. — 8 years ago

Rajiv AyyangarTim Herrmann
with Rajiv and Tim
Rajiv and Chris liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2013

Funk on the nose. A little juice, earth, minerality, and balanced acidity. Smells like your grandparents basement. — 9 years ago

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2011

Paul J
9.5

Fantastic as always!! Dark red color. Cedar, earth, and cherries on the nose. Lovely texture with a subtle sweetness I haven’t experienced before but was nice. Complex and high quality. Loved it! — 6 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Severn, Tom and 5 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

David T
9.3

Happy birthday honey. 🎂🥳🎉❤️

The Chateau that got my wife Sofia to finally love Bordeaux (1995). Expected more from the this property in 2000. But 2000 is still either the stubborn I think it is or just not as good as critically advertised. 20 years in bottle and think it needs at least 10 more years. Also, a touch of v/a-bandaid. It has nice balance with soft fruit & earth. It just lacks the wow factor for the property & vintage. Maybe, it is in a dumb faze. But, I’ve been waiting 20 years for 2000 to come out of its shell. I love this property but it is not up to its reputation…even for lesser vintages. It might be outstanding in another 20. This bottle is a little flawed and perhaps maybe (?) a better 2nd day wine. Tonight it is leaner than I would expect. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Sweet lead pencil, charcoal, volcanic ash, spice, nutmeg, some cinnamon, vanillin, dry tobacco, sandalwood, limestone, dry crushed rocks , dry pebbles, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, dry herbs, hints of Worcestershire sauce, moist clay, withering mid floral bouquet with excellent acidity and a wire to wire finish that is balanced, nicely tensioned and elegance that lasts minutes. One of the few slightly flawed bottles in 25 plus yrs of collecting. I can count them on just over one-hand.

Picture of Sofia picking the 2012 Mouton Rothschild Merlot.
— 6 months ago

Jason, Bob and 18 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Celebrating with a couple nice wines tonight

2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). An imposing dark magenta color. On the nose: very aromatic with dark cherry, currants, herbaceous, smokey earth, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: soft, silky, dry tannin wine with black fruit, pencil lead, cedar, tar, crushed rock, and a minerally mocha dry medium plus finish. YUM! More time to go.
— 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Paul and 18 others liked this
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Shay A cannot wait to try em again in a few years. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Rob Brobst III Gotta have some fun with the cellar. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Sharon B Thanks. Just a fun little b-day celebration. Cheers!

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

Funk on the nose- old books. Needed more time than we had to decant. Barely opening at an hour. Lots of earth, tobacco, but thinner than expected — 2 years ago

Bevan Cellars

Rita's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016

Every now and again I crave a hedonistic Pinot, and winemaker Russell Bevan‘s M.O. is BIG in every category. All knobs are turned up. — 4 years ago

Severn, Eric and 11 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

This one goes to 11.

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2007

Fantastic. Smooth, elegant and classic. Rioja like it should be, with nose of pepper, sour cherry and pepper finish. Start is leather and earth. A great wine. — 6 years ago

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Black and blue berries, earth, tobacco. Layered beautifully. Power and elegance in harmonious balance! Has so much more to go! Wish I saved this opening for about 10-12 more years! Makes me fall back in love with CA Cabs!!! — 7 years ago

Mike liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 1982

Alder Yarrow
9.4

Cloudy ruby, this wine smells of earth and cedar and dried red fruits. In the mouth, dried flowers and forest floor mix with river-mud-tannins and a bright juicy acidity. Tasted out of magnum. — 8 years ago

John, Anthony and 15 others liked this
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

Just tasted a few vintages of this. Very nice. Love the whites too.

WALT Wines

Rita's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

One of the best Pinot's I've had. Very little spice... easy to drink. — 9 years ago

Domaine Serene

Evenstad Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010

Very old world style Pinot. Lots of fruit and earth. Extremely complex yet soft and easy to drink. — 10 years ago