Spice Block

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

What a great refined wine. The 2018 Insignia opens with aromas of dark fruit, florals, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, mocha, and plum come through with a nice texture and tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. Wow! — 9 months ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael
Dave, Ira and 2 others liked this

Foxen

Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Strawberry, black cherry jolly rancher, nutmeg, and earth aromas. Strawberry and cherry palate with great acidity and juicy palate. — 4 years ago

Jamie, Ira and 12 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Thought I was a Foxen, Sea Smoke and Patz & Hall fan. Guess again...generally, pretty delicious juice.

Sogrape Vinhos

Silk & Spice Touriga Nacional-Alicante Bouschet Blend

Pat A
9.1

Nice easy drinking red. $9 a glass as victorias — 5 years ago

Walnut Block Wines

Collectables Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Mild lemon, what yah think of when you think table white wine — 7 years ago

Arnot-Roberts

Hudson Vineyard North Block Syrah

Light, small spice, almost an effervescence. Delicious and versatile — 8 years ago

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2007

If there were ever an archetypical Syrah, Jamet's Cote-Rotie would be a strong candidate. To me this is a pure expression of a classic Northern Rhone Syrah. It is not a single site, but a blend of terroirs, encompassing over 20 sites mostly from hard rock schist bedrock with little to no topsoil. There is NO Viognier in this wine like one might expect from most Cote-Rotie that might have 1-5% co-fermented.

Importantly, there is also a lot less of the oak character that can dominate and overwhelm many Northern Rhone wines. The oak maturation, while not short at 22 months, only uses 15% new oak with no trace of it on the palate as it is perfectly integrated. Grape bunches are whole cluster fermented and macerated for up to 3 weeks.

The 2007 we have here was drinking superbly for a young wine, showing lively and racy layers of peppercorn spice, roast beef, and warm blackberry and currant fruit from the hot 2007 vintage. While from a warm vintage, not a hair is out of place. Density and purity exude from the nose and hint at what a brilliant future this wine has. Perfect acidity and fleshy ripe tannin provide the backbone structure for father time to peel back the layers of this beauty. I will be chceking back in 5 years at the earliest.
— 9 years ago

LM, Jim and 11 others liked this
LM Segal

LM Segal Influencer Badge

Nice note. 🍷
Tom Kobylarz

Tom Kobylarz Influencer Badge

Thanks! 🍷

Williams Selyem

Block 10-Mass Selection Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012

This is has definitely come together more since November. — 11 years ago

Laurent, Anthony and 1 other liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2012

Amazing taste! Perfect color, perfect structure, great spice, love the fruit! Enjoy with my mochi ice cream dessert — 11 years ago

Hirsch Vineyards

Block 8 Pinot Noir

needed a few more years but has great structure — 9 months ago

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2015

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 10 months ago

Paul, Dave and 12 others liked this

Wirra Wirra

Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

This is another blend. But this time it’s Cab, Syrah and Mourvèdre. — 5 years ago

Brittan Vineyards

Basalt Block Pinot Noir 2013

Limestone and flint, some fresh turned earth. It opens with tannins, black peppercorns, purple plum skin, and ends with light red fruit, possibly pomegranate. — 7 years ago

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Full red fruit and spice with smoke and woody honey. Smooth as silk. — 8 years ago

Concha y Toro

Block Las Terrazas Pirque Viejo Vineyard Terrunyo Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Beautiful black currant aroma and velvety mouthfeel. Love it! — 9 years ago

JJ liked this

Arietta

H Block Hudson Vineyards Cabernet Franc Merlot

This is an inarguably great wine. And all the more impressive to me that it is stylistically not my typical leanings. Serious power, depth, balance - still so young - and I'll be damned if this wine isn't mindblowing in 10 years. Bravo @Fritz Hatton — 10 years ago

Liz, Steve and 11 others liked this
Brent Mayeaux

Brent Mayeaux Influencer Badge

I really enjoy when a wine that "isn't my style" impresses me in this way. It encourages me to keep trying everything(I don't need that much encouraging though) and to have an open mind.

Liparita

V Block Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

When compared side by side with Liparita's less expensive Rutherford Cab release, V Block can be likened to a parent's favorite offspring. Although both wines may share similar genetic material and upbringing, V Block has gained more dimension and self confidence through increased care and attention from infancy. #ridiculous :p — 11 years ago

Quivet Cellars

Hulda Block Las Madres Vineyard Syrah 2011

Violets, smoked game, blue/black fruits for days. Deeyyyamn Mike! Snacktakular. — 11 years ago

Anthony and Lundmark liked this

Myriad Cellars

Esther Block Las Madres Vineyard Syrah 2023

Nice. Bit sharp at first so give it some air. Opened up nice. First time trying this but finding myself a Myriad red fan if one can get it at a reasonable price — 9 months ago

Dave, Paul and 5 others liked this

Bevan Cellars

Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Was hoping to like this but it was a solid if unmemorable CA Cab. Nothing much to say which is all I have to say…. — 4 years ago

Shay, Milissa and 5 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Bummer. Those are usually really enjoyable.

Spice Route

Chakalaka Red Blend

Nice and spicy... — 5 years ago

Ghost Block

Single Vineyard Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Daaaaammmnnn this is 🔥!!! Gots all the signatures of a big ass Cali cabs, but like I dunno, sophisticated and demure. All those ripe lush fruity juiciness was just so perfectly interwoven with cocoa coffee graphite and lightly crushed herbs all with jusssst the right amount of oakiness <chef’s kiss> — 6 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1995

Shay A
9.5

Night 1 of the Fall WNH event in San Antonio. What a killer start to the extended weekend, all courtesy to Shawn and Jennifer for hosting! Tonight was Italian wines.

Another in the running for WOTN. Maple and rich! Cherry and vanilla tobacco on the nose with herbal spice and a strawberry tart finish. Young and acidic! There is a very underripe red fruit dominant profile here. Crazy how young it tastes for 23yrs old. Bravo
@Shawn R !
— 8 years ago

Mike RDavid LJoe Lucca
with Mike, David and 5 others
Mike, David and 61 others liked this
Stef Van Der Vorst

Stef Van Der Vorst

WoW ! Sassicaia often gets more beautyful with age ! But 1995...!? What a surprise !
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

Good wine

Varner

Spring Ridge Vineyard Bee Block Chardonnay 2014

Paul J
9.3

Lovely yellow hue opens up a powerful nose filled with dirt, grass, rice, and honeysuckle. The palate proceeds to get smothered with a perfect amount of oak coupled with honey and lemon. A mildly tart finish makes this the perfect summer white. Great recommendation by the local rep and Happy 4th to everyone!....a mid-dinner update....massive green apple comes through with food! — 9 years ago

Mike, Billy and 1 other liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

2000 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon:
From Jay. Dark ruby red in color. A preponderance of black forest fruits on the nose mixed with cedar and some menthol and a touch of spice. Rich blackcurrant, black cherries and traces of vanilla on the palette. This is a solid effort from Ridge and although it does not have the makings of an epic wine it will certainly improve with time. Drink 2017 to 2030. 91/100


— 11 years ago

Karine liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Jimmy Smith
9.2

2011: all varieties. Meaty, lavender, garden herbs, smoky, but still very vibrant red fruit. Lovely vibrancy of red fruit and all Mouvedre and Grenache aromatics. Sweet fruit, juicy acidity, hot indian spice and liquorice. Plum, cherry, spiced. Quite ready now. — 11 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Rich...thick...wood & spice...this wine warms my toes! — 11 years ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Great. Rich. Complex. Perfect balance of spice, fruit, and mineral. — 13 years ago