Side Hustle Wine

Pedroncelli

East Side Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Mellow citrus nose. Smooth and pleasant with a warm finish. Notes of lemon pith, green grape skin, and minerals. Tart with an oaky butteriness. Leaves the tongue and mouth with soft feel. — 3 years ago

B Side

North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Extremely pleasant wine. Smooth tanins, mild boysenberry notes. — 5 years ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in.
— 5 years ago

Christina ChampagneJames
with Christina and James
Shay, Ira and 47 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2001

After an hour and a half, this one settled down. Quite "weedy" initially, but then became a very nice wine, almost with a youthful kind of nose. If tasted blind, I would have said this was a 2009-2011 high end CDP. But, there's a HINT of mushroom on the nose and front of the palate, along with raspberry tart and some mature pipe tobacco and worn saddle leather, hint of clove. Finishes with a lot of fruit influence. Tannins have resolved quite nicely on this wine. The youth of this wine is starting to give to a more mature side. Nice. In a good spot right now. — 7 years ago

P, Ryan and 34 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Top vintage too in my book
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

This wine is a big favorite of mine.
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

@James Cahill I didn't. But looking back, I probably should have. And if I open up one within the next few years, I probably will. @Pinotman /// Andreas was very good. Had read good things about the vintage. @Hugh O'Riordan I don't drink many or have many Beaucastel, but I always lament that I don't have more whenever I do open one!!

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir

Ha! The comments on this wine are amazingly varied. I found it very overt on a chocolate tip, and more robust on the fruit side than your usual PINOT...but I really enjoyed it, would buy again.... — 7 years ago

Hopes End Wine

Run Away To The Dark Side To A Place Called Port Misery Shiraz Blend 2016

This is the ultimate red wine!! 😍 You taste the fruit as soon as it hits your tongue. Has a smooth finish. This definitely is a mislabel because their is no end to the hope in this bottle. #Perfect10 — 8 years ago

BrainsNBuns liked this
BrainsNBuns

BrainsNBuns Influencer Badge

Oh shit!!! A perfect ten.
Nerd_Emperor

Nerd_Emperor

@BrainsNBuns listen it was everything

Domaine Dujac

Morey Saint Denis Pinot Noir 2005

Dark scarlet color, almost opaque. Powerful nose. Notes of black fruit, spice, dark soil, iron and some sois bois. Rich and deeply penetrating in the mouth. Mouth puckering finish. I have to say Wow, because this is my first sip of an 05 Dujac since tasting at the Domain years ago when we got to sample the 05 lineup. All I can say is if this is their Village bottling, the 1ers and GCs are going to be off the charts! Even this MSD is going to be a rock star with 5 more years on its side. — 4 years ago

Eric, Ira and 18 others liked this

7 Moons

Dark Side Red Blend

Fantastic cab, perfect by itself or wine dinner. Great compliment with the filet mignon I had tonight. Dry, yet a touch sweet, deep bold flavors. — 5 years ago

Clos Pepe Estate

Pinot Noir The Dark Side 2012

Still in great shape! — 5 years ago

Jeff OrlowskiMichael Seely
with Jeff and Michael
Jeff, Matt and 3 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1999

‘96 and ‘99 side by side. A real treat from a good friend. Similar fruit and flavor profile though the ‘99 had a bit more weight and structure. Both were a pleasure with dinner. — 6 years ago

Ron, Ira and 8 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

Still on the young side. Give it time before drinking. Well balanced. Length will come with more time. — 7 years ago

Bruce Leboff
with Bruce
Keith liked this

Macchia

West Side Zinfandel 2015

With Collin. Nice finish. Creamy, full body. — 7 years ago

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Columbia Valley Riesling 2019

On the drier/demi-sec side of Riesling, which is welcome. Crisp green apple with mineral character, honey finish — 4 years ago

Domaine François Raveneau

Butteaux Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2000

Tasted blind. Light gold color. Has a nose that immediately takes me to Chablis. Notes of honey, citrus, wet river stone, ocean breeze, tan spice and white chalky soil. Perfectly balanced in the mouth with lots of fruit and acidity. Screams Raveneau. I guess 2000 Raveneau Valmur. Had this side by side with the 2000 Fevre Clos… the 2000 Raveneau Butteaux had 4 hours of air in the decanter, the 2000 Fevre Clos only 30 min… it clearly showed (1) why you age Chablis and (2) why you give them hours of air to open before consumption. The Raveneau was outstanding and the Fevre didn’t have time to show its expression. — 5 years ago

romo, Josh and 25 others liked this

Apothic

Apothic White Winemaker's Blend California White Blend 2013

Easy summer day drink. Little on the sweeter side. — 6 years ago

Monisha SoodVinay Singh
with Monisha and Vinay

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 1987

Nice, aged Cabernet. Debated opening this one. This started more on the plum and raisin side and a little muted. 15 minutes later? Fig and mushroom with basil and oregano, but not a whole lot of fruit. 30 minutes after that? Dirty black cherry, plums, seemed to find itself after a 31 year sleep. Rather substantial weight in the middle. Finishes with a gritty note. Tannins are definitely dropping here and this one is showing all it has. Good time to drink now! — 7 years ago

Dan FitzgeraldShay ABenjamin Keator
with Dan, Shay and 1 other
Shay, Joshua and 37 others liked this
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

Great review. Interesting wine to try
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I got to this after about 30mins of being open and by that time, the funk had blown off and there was a dominant note of pipe tobacco along with older cherry and plum. Very much herbal-driven on the back end of the palate. At 32yrs old, there was still nice weight to this and while it’s not powerful, fruit is still noticeable. A treat to try aged Napa Cab that can taste like this!
9.3

Clos Pepe Estate

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2014

2014 Dark Side. Slightly peppery nose. Earthy, spicy, full-bodied fruit. Signature Clos Pepe. — 8 years ago