Sugar Plum

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Gor
9.5

Saddle leather, cedar, spice, lingonberry, plum, hint of licorice. Full bodied and structured with a long finish. Great stuff. — 2 months ago

Ira, Ron and 14 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A wondrous dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: perfumed notes of stewed plum, currants, old leather, cigar box, smoked meat, truffles, and touch of mint. Taste: silky, exquisite wine with red cherry/plum, old leather, dusty chiseled granite, bitter chocolate, cedar, and a dry graphite/coffee long finish. YUM! Drinks beautifully and should hold for more years of awesomeness. — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, David and 26 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

Nice bottle!

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1980

Nice clear bro fruit at the front. Plum and black cherry with a hint of pepper and an inky poise. Very good. — 3 months ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Tom, Shay and 6 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Rim to rim color density. Red and black cherries poke through cedar and sweet tobacco on the nose with dark chocolate chunks, plum, prune and date, toasted sesame, cinnamon, rose petal, and cardamom. Chewy tannins that roll satin-smooth initially, then cassis, black currant and licorice flip the script. Graphite and blackberry frame dark chocolate and mocha-tobacco, oak and black bread.


#dunn #dunnvineyards #howellmountain #howell #napa #angwin #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #cab #cabsauv #2014 #2014napa
— 4 months ago

Paul, Severn and 3 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Silky smooth nose, velvety and soft, with forewarned black currants, just a LITTLE pepper, dark cherry and maybe a little pine forest floor? Some sediment and still grippy tannin, but starting to really loosen, with prominent ripe red fruits of dark , brooding plum, cherry and dark fruits, with hints of graphite, wood, and smoke over a still zingy finish. — 6 months ago

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable dark purplish magenta with some bricking. On the nose: some plum, currants, herbaceous, baking spice, touch of tobacco and milk chocolate. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with currants, tobacco, green bell pepper, spiced dark cherry, clove. YUM! — 7 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 15 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.
— 7 months ago

Jason, Bob and 18 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

This wine has aged so beautifully! Smooth tannings, subtle aromas of black cherry, plum, black currant, pencil shavings, dried herbs, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and a hint of mentol.
A wonderful wine for a special occasion.
— 2 months ago

Joel, Bob and 13 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Dark ruby hue. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, licorice, plum, and sugarplum. Full-bodied, with full tannins and high acidity. Exquisite bouquet and a lasting finish. Exemplary Left Bank wine. — 3 months ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

A slightly medicinal note at the front. Good savory fruit. Mint and bloody iron plum. Lucid and distinctive. — 3 months ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Shay, Jan and 6 others liked this

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This wine has a deep ruby hue with viscous tearing.

Aromas and flavors are highly expressive with notes of Luxardo black cherry, dried blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, juicy plum, violet, molasses, mocha, coconut, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, dill, and leather.

On the palate, this wine is dry with a hint of residual sugar that has a softening effect. It has medium(+) acidity, a full body, high alcohol (15% ABV!), high tannins that are smooth and velveteen. The finish lingers.

It’s a rounded, full-bodied, and opulent expression that epitomizes the wines of Paso Robles.
— 4 months ago

Deked1, Paul and 18 others liked this

Château Clos L'Eglise

Pomerol Merlot - Cabernet Franc Blend 2000

Black cherry, raspberry, plum fruit with mocha, glycerin, licorice & tobacco. Like most 00’s tried this is still youthful & seems to have hardly budged since last trying. — 6 months ago

David, Bob and 17 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

Still waiting on all my good producers. I might have to live as long as Kissinger before they are ready. I don’t think 2010 will be entirely different. Cheers and Happy New Year!
Ron Siegel

Ron Siegel Premium Badge

David unfortunately you are correct the 10’s are the most structured vintage when compared to 00, 05, 09 & will also need a lot more time. Cheers!

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

1978 vintage. Great fill with a fully saturated cork. Used a Durand to remove and cork held up but big cork splinters shedding upon removal. Decanted and tasted over the course of an hour. Super silky, not chunky, sed. Light-medium body. Had to coax the nose out a little but revealed cassis, tobacco, dark plum, sandalwood and cherry pits. All these plus a slight, beef broth touch in the flavors. Not improving but can sustain another half-decade in this incarnation. Gorgeous, old BDX. Drink now till 2029. 12.8.23. — 6 months ago

Ted, Ira and 16 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Nice pull

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2008

Dark garnet hue. Aromas of bramble, cedar, cherry, flint, graphite, leather, oak, plum, strawberry. Medium-plus body, with plus tannins and plus acidity. Integrated, rounded tannins. Drinking well now. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo. — 2 months ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Lovely and ripe on the nose with really punchy plum and pepper. On the palate a bit hot and short compared to the others alongside — 3 months ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Shay, Mark and 5 others liked this

Colgin Cellars

IX Estate Napa Valley Red Blend

Perfumed and lean on the nose with a bit of bacon fat, sour cherry, violet and plum. On the palate a little hot and truncated. The nose wins here, but the front is good. — 3 months ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Mark, Jay and 6 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Excellent dinner wine with crab/lobster. Low tannins, some plum tones — 4 months ago

Oltjon, Martin and 1 other liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

David T
9.5

The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.

The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.

The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.

If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley.
— 5 months ago

Juan, Shay and 16 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2018

John W
9.0

Deep ruby coloration. On the nose, forest floor, plum, cherry, currants, spice and bbq. On the palate, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, plum, and high acidity right out of the bottle. After breathing some, notes of cedar, minerals, tobacco, and spice, carrying through to a longer finish of cherry, vanilla and mint. Tannins strong but balanced. — 7 months ago

Gary liked this

Duckhorn Vineyards

Napa Valley Merlot 2019

Medium-deep ruby color.
Aromas of dark fruit, buttered toast, spice, herbs.
Dry. Flavors of black plum, licorice, thyme, stewed black cherry. Medium-rich, velvety tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
— 7 months ago