Tan Fruit

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Tasted blind. Deeper slightly brighter in colour, deeper ruby and a thinner garnet rim . Bit more closed and deeper in fruit , grafite , blackcurrants , wet stones , mineral . There is also a seaside , sea shore hint coming back to this . On the palate this has more volume than 1 , richer in style . More dusty and drier tannins , balanced acidity and good grafite tinged length . Mouton ? Lovely depth and expressiveness , exuberante, young still but with time really shows well. From now and over the next 10 -15 years. This was the Lafite , which surprised me , but still a beautiful wine. — a month ago

Jeroen, Tom and 16 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2000

Bought at auction. First bottle awful. This one is lovely. Needed two hours of air to settle and integrate. Freeze dried strawberries, dried cherries, plum, dust, herbs like tarragon and thyme on nose. I could smell for hours. Palate is bigger than I expected more game and herbs than fruit. Leather with dried cherries. There’s more herbs and plums and cooked/reduced berries but not super sweet. Good tannin still. Pretty good and fun to try at 26 years. I am guessing warm vintage based on abv. — 2 months ago

Tom and Scott@Mister liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Delicious with Pat’s grilled steak. Lovely nose, dark fruit and long finish. ($89) — 3 months ago

Jay, Jean-Philip and 3 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

A great bottle. Intense and deep fruit. Plum and iodine with a hint of leather and blood. Such a consistent wine and many years ahead — 4 months ago

Jay, Jan and 10 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

fruit party. Argentina beats Cape Verde in a nail biter — 4 months ago

Joe, Dave and 4 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak. — 6 months ago

RoAnne de WeerdTammy de Weerd
with RoAnne, Tammy and 2 others
Edo, Jan and 4 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak.

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Sharon and 10 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines.
— 7 years ago

Eric, Daniel and 31 others liked this
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

I could of got you 2 Austin Hope for that price🤷🏼‍♂️
P A

P A

@David T David good post Cheers 🍷
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Paul T- Huntington Beach How very nice of you. @P A Thank you! Cheers! 🍷

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

2011- gift from a friend. Excellent structure, tannins are very mellow but alcohol is still very hot. Fruit forward, possibly oxidized fruit (port-like fruit). — 12 years ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035.
— 2 months ago

ESF, Peter and 10 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Aged purple fruit. Paired with meat chili — 3 months ago

Ira, Dave and 7 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Upon opening, this seemed a bit disjointed, with muted fruit flavors and strong herbal notes. Decanting didn’t seem to help much, but day 2 it finally opened up nicely, with nice complexity and intensity on the palate. Cherry, raspberry, cassis, bay leaf, dried Italian herbs, anise, cloves, vanilla, cedar, earth, and balsamic notes all come through. Really tasty, but maybe a bit too intense. I can see this improving with a few more years of aging so the flavors coalesce and soften a bit more. — 4 months ago

Dave, Barny and 10 others liked this
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Ever try vintage 2010 for this particular?
Joel Lara

Joel Lara

No I haven’t. This is actually the my first Lopez de Heredia. Have you tried it?
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

I have tried their bosconia & cubillo. Haven't tried the tondonia reserva, but do have the 2010 in my cellar.

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Smooth and rich with pronounced berry fruit. I prefer a bit more earthy and forest floor but still a nice accompaniment to rack of lamb. — 5 months ago

Naveen Chopra
with Naveen

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2023

Very nice choice by the Sommelier at Pastis in Nashville to pair with both grilled Branzino and Boeuf Bourguignon. (I know.). Bright, a bit astringent, fruit forward, with some structure but not too much. — 8 months ago

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2020

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Both days outstanding but slightly different experiences. Day 1 was about power. Day 2 was about balance. The 2020 “Cuvée Réservée” pours a brilliant garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady, slightly funky notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, red & purple flowers, bacon fat, licorice, and dry rocky earth. On Day 2, everything was more open nit and the fruit showed more bruised with a slightly stewed profile. Lavender was the predominate floral profile too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is textbook Pégau and I love it. Drink now through 2045+ — 9 months ago

Joel, Tom and 5 others liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay

2017 Marcel Lapierre Morgon in the House!
Did you know that Morgon is the second largest Cru (group of vineyards) in Beaujolais after Brouilly?
Yea anyway.... This Full Bodied Gamay was dope🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Deep Garnet, Red fruit on the nose like cherry or pomegranate.
I get plum, & nectarine/peach.
Nice finish !
I’d give it around 91 points.
#morgon #beaujolais #frenchwine #gamay #france #france🇫🇷 #wine
#winetasting
— 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

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2007

Absolutely amazing. Lots of good brett. Balanced and delicious. Great dark fruit aromas and flavors. So smooth. Medium high tannins and acidity. Perfect silky texture. A little funk on the nose and palate (positive). Aroma and flavors are out of this world. Leather bag full of cherries and raspberries. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carmenere. Complex. Delicious 13.5% abv — 10 years ago

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Medium ruby garnet with quite wide garnet rim . Still quite youthful for age . Aromatic from the off, with red plum , cherry , hedgerow fruit , cigar box , scorched earth , dried flowers . On the palate this is medium bodied , with lots of herbal tinged red fruits , tobacco , grafite, with good volume. Perfectly balanced acidity and suave resolved tannins . Long tobacco edged , red fruit finish . Very detailed and aromatic, no need to decant , really pretty and in a lovely spot though don’t see this improving further, as after about 2 hours this particular bottle starts to fade a little , loosing its aroma and showing a touch of rain water and wet rock hints on the nose, and fading a little on the palate . Drink now and over the next 5 years or so to get the best of this . At Restaurante Fasano , Jardins , São Paulo — 2 months ago

ESF, Tom and 7 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Surprised ratings are low on this. I found it absolutely brilliant. Super smooth and great mouthfeel. Silky tannins, wonderfully balanced, ripe black fruit. — 3 months ago

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

45 years on, and still singing. Our friends’ wedding anniversary year. Classic tertiary Saint-Julien: cedar, forest floor, dried cherry, tobacco, pencil shavings — fruit fully resolved into savory complexity. Silky, perfumed, no rough edges. Need time to breathe for nose to be appealing. — 3 months ago

Dave liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

2009 at Caruso’s in Montecito. So freaking good. Well balanced. Dark fruit, some hints of pepper, cedar, more fruit, there’s also a freshness of herbs and lighter fruit that was lovely. Had with steak and beets in like 6 different preparations. Perfect pairing. — 4 months ago

David liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Dark fruit in the nose with plums, black cherries, leather and blackberries in the palate. Paired well with steak au poivre. Drank in 2026, could use aeration to fully enjoy the wine. — 6 months ago

Joel, Somm and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Their 2023 Artemis took a nice step up in quality. Fruit now comes from the estate.

Corison Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Lighter alcohol, grippy tannins, and medium bodied with strawberry, raspberry, and cranberry fruit. Minerality that provides hints of cocoa and thyme. — 7 months ago

Lou Ann Mowry
with Lou
Douglas, Joel and 10 others liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Well, this is my last 2015 and after 11 years it’s close to perfection. Ruby with aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, cedar, and chocolate. On the bud, it smooth, rich, and a long finish. Stewed fruit and a spice note tease the palate. Great with my 40 day aged Ribeye and Red Potatoes. — 8 months ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Always a solid Sonoma cab. Some anise and dark fruit, dark chocolate and anise. Slight bit of dill and vanilla. Drinks young, this could go for a bit longer. Good strong tannins but smooth enough to balance my prime rib. — 3 years ago

Jillian Varner
with Jillian

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 1998

Soft cherry fruit with a hint of tobacco and mellow oak on the nose. Beautifully approachable fruit it’s a tart note. Yummy — 8 years ago

Paul Woolls
with Paul
Shay, Martin and 8 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 1993

Dried fruit and wine in good shape, but acidity overwhelmed a bit of the balance. — 9 years ago

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

A touch of brett added intrigue without needing to dump the bottle. Otherwise the wine shows like many Bordeaux. Albeit with napa fruit. — 11 years ago

David, Ron and 1 other liked this