Spotlight
Robert Mondavi Winery
Spotlight Collection Stags Leap District Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Clean, linear, aromatic, with just enough oak to impact mouthfeel and show a little vanilla. Tasty and good with food. — 7 years ago
Campo alla Sughera
Arnione Bolgheri Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011
Picture my speech bubble saying “is it okay to include this in an overview of cab around the world?” I mean barely this is only 40% Cabernet Sauvignon but regardless its verrrry tasty and balanced. And acidic and fruity yet earthy and it’s a Super Tuscan mostly the two cabs: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20 cab franc. Then 20 merlot and 20 petit Verdot. It’s the college student who joined every club but never got to be president of any of them. Well rounded and appealing. Distinctive not of any one thing exactly but so appealing and damn reliable. It gives you ripe cherries and red and black cassis, a whiff of the vanilla and spice of oak with a crunchy bite of oak. It’s balanced. It’s pleasurable. The more I drink cabs the more I think it is a ringleader than wants it’s cohorts to back it up. Good on its own? Sure thing it is substantial. But. Better than many of its blending partners and damn when it shares the spotlight...it is a star with back up dancers and a plan — 7 years ago
Caillez-Lemaire
Eclats Brut Damery Champagne Blend
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.
This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."
We're revisiting some producer bottles from our late Spring France vacation earlier this year.
Awesome bottle, so mineral driven, toasted brioche spread with quince jam.
Photos of C-L champagne bottles resting with their temporary closures, resting 750's of their Cuvée Jadis rose and our bottle of the evening. — 7 years ago
Albane & Bertrand Minchin
Le Claux Delorme Valençay VDQS Red Blend 2018
A very nice and balanced Loire blend with the fruit in the spotlight. Gamay and Cot holding the top of the pavement, enhanced with 10% Pinot Noir and 10% Cab-Franc. The finish is well developed with pepper notes. Wine to drink in its youth over the next 5 years.
Assemblage équilibré fort sympathique typé Loire, mettant le fruit à l’honneur. Gamay et Cot tenant le haut du pavé, rehaussé de 10% de pinot noir et 10% de Cab-franc. La finale est bien développée avec ses notes poivrées. Vin à boire sur sa jeunesse dans les 5 ans. — 5 years ago
Robert Mondavi Winery
Spotlight Collection PNX Carneros Pinot Noir 2015
Absolute perfection! Smooth, robust, and perfect time to enjoy! — 5 years ago
Spotlight
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Ruby hue with high saturation. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, cedar, cranberry, forest floor, licorice, mushroom, oak, plum, vanilla, and yeast. Medium-heavy body; medium tannins; and medium-high acidity. Bold, smooth, and structured. — 6 years ago
David Duband
Côtes de Nuits-Village Pinot Noir 2015
Destihl Brewery
Saint Dekkera Flanders Oud Bruin
2013 FDR3. Red-hued dark brunette body with bib bubbles, big textured, loose and frothy. Just dud spots left and moth wing scatter of pressed flower residual. Awesome sour cherry, baked persimmon, aged balsamic over steamed carrot, peppercorn, and toasty oak scents disperse, while chutney and pickled apricot take the spotlight, locked in a dark embrace. This may be the perfect sour. Smooth from oak, but sweet with vanillin and cola-malt, and sharpness from grapefruit, sour apricot, sweet potato sugar baked black. Blackened cinnamon-soaked apples, dried, brined bing cherry flavors, grilled lime, with autumnal spice and landscape sensibilities flowing smoothly in between. Astounding. — 6 years ago
Louis Jadot
Clos de Malte Santenay Chardonnay 2013
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.
This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."
We're revisiting some producer bottles from our late Spring France vacation earlier this year.
Nose of under-ripe tropical fruits, banana skin, light oak touch. Palate has yummy papaya, under-ripe peach, tangerine and sweet oak.
Photos of the Jadot (Update, Bouchard!) Chateau with its beautiful colored slate roof (to the left of the chateau its the conservatory where we had an epic lunch during our visit and they used to overwinter their citrus trees in here many, many years ago), pictures of the first room of the most amazing library cellar in all of Burgundy (the subsequent rooms are even more amazing) and our bottle of the evening.
24hr Update, sweet oak and fermented tropical fruits just stunning today, last bottle. ☹️
OMG Update: somehow I grabbed pics from our Bouchard visit, argh! The only Jadot thing in the collage is the bottle, so sorry! — 7 years ago
Zeni
Vigne Alte Bardolino Classico Chiaretto Corvina Blend Rosé 2017
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.
This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."
Love this bottle, strawberry and citrus, so tasty! — 7 years ago
Domaine Christophe Blanc
Les Chênes Saint-Joseph Syrah 2018
Round and strong. The attack and the body of the wine put the Syrah in the spotlight in all its specificities: both intense and fresh, with aromatic notes of violets, black fruits, spices, black olives, menthol, and leather. The finish is developed without being really long, letting out some gourmet peppery and herbaceous notes. A very gourmet wine for meat eaters, or Syrah enthusiasts (including me). Requires 2 good hours of ventilation. 2 years in the cellar will perfectly calm this youthful ardor which is nevertheless very appreciable.
Rond et costaud. L’attaque et le corps du vin mettent la Syrah a l’honneur dans toutes ses spécificités: à la fois intense et fraîche, avec les notes aromatiques de violette, fruits noirs, épices, olives noires, menthol, et cuir. La finale est développée sans être vraiment longue, laissant ressortir des notes poivrées et herbacées. Un vin très gourmand pour les mangeurs de viande, où les adeptes de la Syrah (dont je suis). Nécessite 2 bonnes heures d’aération. 2 ans de cave assagirons à merveille cette fougue de jeunesse néanmoins fort appréciable — 5 years ago
Philippe Alliet
Chinon Cabernet Franc 2018
My favorite wine merchant pushed me to go to this winemaker .. carefully, I start with this entry-level cuvée around 13-15 €. The color is deep ruby, the nose is discreet. The palate confirm the visual intensity. Aromatic tones typical of Cabernet-Franc grape variety: strawberry, pepper, anise. A medium-bodied wine with a silky texture that testifies the mastery of winemaking. The aging is discreet, putting the fruit in the spotlight, more than the tertiary notes. It’s a friendly, accessible wine. For its price it's really great! it clearly makes you want to explore the rest of the winemaker’s Cuvées. — 5 years ago
Robert Mondavi Winery
Spotlight Collection Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2014
Had while attending Mondavi Concert series. Made for a nice transition into the evening concert. Had with pulled pork which really hit on all cylinders. Dark cherry, tootsie roll, fig. Nice. — 6 years ago
Robert Mondavi Winery
Spotlight Collection Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
I like Bob’s wines, but I don’t love them. This was the closest I have come to falling in love with a Mondavi. Great tasting room and a big fruity cab to quaff! — 7 years ago
Jean-Jacques Morel
Puligny-Montrachet Chardonnay 2015
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our full cast of conductors include Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas and John Williams. The beautiful and vocally talented Audra McDonald is our host for the evening along with Midori on violin and Yo-Yo Ma on cello.
This will likely be an evening to remember for some time. Program notes from the BSO "Reflecting the season-long theme, The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood will spotlight Bernstein's wide-ranging talents as a composer, his many gifts as a great interpreter and champion of other composers, and his role as an inspirer of a new generation of musicians and music lovers across the country and around the globe. The gala concert will feature a kaleidoscopic array of artists and ensembles from the worlds of classical music, film, and Broadway. The entire first half of the program is dedicated to selections from such brilliant Bernstein works as Candide, West Side Story, Mass, and Serenade. Music from the classical canon very dear to Bernstein's heart-selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn and music by Copland-plus a new work by John Williams, makes up a good portion of the program's second half; the finale of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony brings the program to a dramatic close."
We're revisiting some producer bottles from our late Spring France vacation earlier this year.
Nose of sweet grass, wet minerals, apricot skin, spring rain on flowers and ripe lemon. Palate has curious light, sweet citrus notes, tropical yellow fruits, this bottle is alive!
Photos of Jean Jacques thieving the 2017 Puligny-Montrachet out for us to sample, the modest sign indicating you've arrived at the most interesting biodynamic place in Saint Aubin and our bottle of the evening.
24hr Update: Sweet, fermented tropical fruit. Honestly I believe this will be even better in another day. — 7 years ago
Romain Fitoussi
Nice discovery of the southwest, with this entry-level cuvée that makes you want to know the rest of the production. A blend that puts Abouriou in the spotlight, a grape close to Malbec or Tannat. The whole presents a very nice balance between structure and freshness; rather oriented red fruits, supported by marked tannins. Good q / p ratio
Belle découverte du sud-ouest, avec cette cuvée d’entrée de gamme qui donne envie de connaître le reste de la production. Un assemblage mettant l’Abouriou à l’honneur, cépage proche du Malbec ou Tannat. L’ensemble présente un très bel équilibre entre structure et fraîcheur; plutôt orienté fruits rouges, soutenu par des tanins marqués. Bon rapport q/p — 5 years ago