Side View

Rock View

Reserve Chardonnay 2023

Very good and buttery! Amazing for $20 — 2 months ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Measured aroma, silky smooth texture, blackberry and cedar notes, grew more complex as the night wore on, probably still on the young side but still a special treat to have with a short rib and polenta dish. — 7 months ago

Dave, Andrew and 1 other liked this

Apothic

Dark Side California Pinot Noir

Nice and smooth… not to heavy. Good drinking as well as with a pasta dish! — 10 months ago

B Side

North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Extremely pleasant wine. Smooth tanins, mild boysenberry notes. — 6 years ago

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. — 6 years ago

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!!

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Columbia Valley Riesling 2017

Sweeter side but not overly sweet — 3 months ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Music ‘n Magnum tasting..
🎶 Monty Python - Always look on the bright side of life.
— 7 months ago

Tom, Freek and 6 others liked this

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

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.
— 6 years ago

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

Smith Story

Lakota's View Sonoma Mountain Sémillon 2022

We don’t get much Sémillon. Too bad. Eric and Alison did a great job on this one. — 6 months ago

Bonnie Hodur
with Bonnie

Scribe

West Side Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

This bottle has been open in cooler for 48 hours… tastes better 48 hours ago — 3 years ago

Hopes End Wine

Run Away To The Dark Side To A Place Called Port Misery Shiraz Blend 2015

Wow, jam, dark stone fruit. Deep purple rim. A pleasure to drink as I grill — 6 years ago

Den Hoed

Marie's View Wallula Vineyard Red Blend 2011

Smells of fresh pressed honey crisp apples - skin and all..
Cocoa, mint, fresh ground coffee, darkness lies in this wine in so many ways. So many wonderful ways. Dense and thick, tingling acidity, with well engulfed tannins.
Lovely.
— 6 years ago

ESF, Bill and 4 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

Great adjectives to describe the wine. 🍷

Schrader Cellars

Boars' View The Coast Pinot Noir 2016

Sour cherries and strawberries.. gets better with air! — 7 years ago

Kelley Kalivoda MewissenMark Mewissen
with Kelley and Mark
Shay, Ron and 3 others liked this

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