Tempranillo Blend

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2001

This is what I think of when I think of Rioja. Dried cherry and cranberry is what I get right away, and then it has more savory/earthy notes like leather and mushroom. When I tasted it I said “it tastes old.” That is a compliment. Hints of vanilla and spice. Felt elegant with a long finish. Had it with fatty new york strips. Tannins and acidity balanced it well. Not a loud wine, but a great one. — 21 days ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2023

Drinking this pre-release bottle of this iconic wine from Bordeaux.

Light gold in color.

Strong nose and Full-bodied.

Sweet on the palate with high acidity to balance the sugars.

Showing melons, tropical fruits, apples, light earth, guava, herbs, spices, papaya and honey notes.

Long finish with herbs and tropical fruits.

This is a gorgeous sweet wine from Bordeaux. Sexy, seductive and fresh. Creamy and buttery.

Showing great potential, but oh so young. Already delicious and complex. Round, opulent and powerful.

Loved the nose once it opened up (20 minutes in the glass).

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and intense, yet elegant. Well balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Drunk from a Magnum.

A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
154 g/l sugar.

14% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$500.
— 10 days ago

Scott@Mister, Daniel and 16 others liked this

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Yellow Label Brut Champagne Blend

Ming L
8.9

The nose shows fresh apple and pear, with a subtle, fleeting hint of brioche. The palate is defined by a crisp, direct attack that yields to a somewhat firm, fruit-driven structure. Fine lively bubbles.

Not my favorite entry level NV Champagne, but it’s quite pleasant.
— a day ago

Joel and Tom liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Paul K
9.7

This is incredible. Such great balance of so many parts. It’s dense, savory, smoky, floral, and juicy with great acidity. The fruit is there but not pronounced, blackberry and cassis- just a balanced part of the whole. I could drink this every night. — 4 days ago

Tom, Dave and 15 others liked this
Rick Phillips

Rick Phillips Premium Badge

Down to 3 bottles but still one of my favorites!
Paul K

Paul K

@Rick Phillips I’ll trade u one of my kids for a bottle. I have an extra…. 😏

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2010

Mature brooding excellence. Enjoyed by the riverbank last May on the River Test. — a month ago

Ira, Jay and 9 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2012

Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over several hours. The 2012 pours a light ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of red brambles, red rope licorice, leather, red flowers and purple flowers, and stony minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose the finish is medium+. Textbook, Grenache forward CdP that’s showing quite beautifully. Drink now through 2032. — 2 days ago

Ira, Andrew and 13 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Already so lovely, but still so young. Medium ruby red in the glass with long, lusty legs and a wide brim. The nose is exactly what you think a classic Left Bank Bordeaux should be. Cassis, plums, and tobacco immediately upon opening. New leather and oak with just the right amount of earth. Very nice.

Big, powerful, and virile. Amazing balance and purity for a wine so young. Still a bit tannic at times but decanting certainly helps with that. Pretty fruit on the palate with blackberries and cherries. Soft vanilla undertones from start to finish along with licorice and more earth on the tongue.

Very impressive with such depth and such personality. As good as this is today it will be so much better if you can show patience. Put these away and try your best to forget about them and you will be rewarded.
— 12 days ago

Douglas, Ruud and 12 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Very nice wine

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2010

Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 2010 pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a gorgeous mix of mostly red and some dark fruits, red flowers, exotic spices, licorice, meat and garrigue. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While not quite making the same impression that my previous experience with the 2010 Rayas had made, this is still a magnificent, singular wine. Drink now through 2050. — 13 hours ago

Scott@Mister, Vanessa and 1 other liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

+2 hour decant(decent sediment). A marvelous dark magenta color. On the nose: perfumed red fruit, potting soil, graphite, cedar lined cigar box, herbaceous. Taste: Powerful, structured wine with red fruit, currants, planting soil, spice, and a cedar-minerally-mocha lingering and evolving finish! YUM! — 3 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 21 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Absolutely one of the very best red Bordeaux producers. I can’t help but think what this is like in 2040 and beyond.
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Somm David T Agree. Fortunately have a few more bottles to see how it evolves...probably a forever wine!! Cheers!

Quintessa

Rutherford Red Blend 2023

Restrained in a really good way. Tannins were a little dusty that added some character. A few years would be beneficial — 15 days ago

Ira, Dave and 2 others liked this