The A List

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2020

Very elegant wine that has found a lovely balance.
Long aftertaste and surely potential to keep going.
— a month ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2022

first time dining at Chef Vola. 22 is incredible , a really powerful and complex food wine with a noticeably long finish. — 2 months ago

Bob, Jay and 7 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2016

This is lovely wine and 10 years later, it’s still not quite ready for prime time. It’s a long runner so no real hurry. The cassis and cocoa will integrate with the dark berry eventually but I’m gonna let this rest another 5-10 years to enjoy as this vintage and this wine deserves. It’s very good now. Don’t get me wrong and it’s perfectly approachable but greater potential lies Ashe’s — 2 months ago

Bob, Dave and 5 others 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. — 2 months ago

David liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

As always, a perfect pairing with steak. — 3 months ago

Sagee and Robin liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Jan A
9.9

Peak, flirting with perfection. Others called out farm/barnyard notes, I thought it was more hansaplast plasters. Anyways, this was very Bordeaux for a napa wine and very napa for a Bordeaux blend. Catching the perfect balance between sweet napa generosity and cooler bdx notes. — 4 months ago

Peter, Sharon and 11 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Yah...jelly. Always wondered about how those completely sealed wax tops fared as the wines aged. I suspect we are finding out exactly noww...such a favored producer.

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1990

Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — 4 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Jay, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Of course Doug! Laurence has some magic in her.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Jay Kline, my brother and I visited Laurence once, in 2005, what a phenomenal lady she was, climbing all over barrels to get samples, we finished with the very youthful 2004, we both thought it great, and she said she wasn’t sure at that point about the 2004!! Great visit!!

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2006

Medium lemon yellow fine , persistent perlage . Quite rich and ripe on the nose with some roasted nuts , lemon peel , some camomile , still quite restrained and a little closed. On the palate again quite full and rich , ripe lemon fruit , orange rind , roasted nuts and a creamy mouthfeel , certainly enough acidity to balance but on the richer side . Good length and lightly toasty finish . This is good now but will probably improve over the next few years and last well a further 5-10 . — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jeroen and 5 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

A lovely wine. Luscious cherries, plums, vanilla, mocha, and some cedar. A great wine for the price. Stag’s Leap always makes consistently fine wines. — 5 months ago

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. — 6 months 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…. 😏

Folie à Deux

Ménage a Trois California Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

My old chap cried a single tear of gooey joy drinking this beauty. — 7 years ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2023

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short purple rim.

Red and black fruits on the nose with cedar, chocolates, spices, tobacco, coffee and black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, black currants, black plums, cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, coffee, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf and light pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink beautifully now. Rich and easy drinking.

Fruit forward and complex, soft and smooth. Spicy and entertaining, powerful yet refined. Showing good balance albeit a little hot at the back of the throat, at this point.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years and shows good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250.
— 2 months ago

Dawn, Paul and 15 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - You’d be surprised how many Napa Cabs have broken the 15 barrier these days.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I understand with Zinfandel, but my recent experiences with those 14.5%+ inexpensive Bordeaux made me realize I just don’t care for Canernet or Merlot pushing 15%! 🤔🤷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - I’m with you. Hard stop at 15 for 95% of wines (exception if I ever get a shot at a Rayas or the like)

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

fruit party. Argentina beats Cape Verde in a nail biter — 2 months ago

Joe, Dave and 4 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Somm David T
9.4

This is far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.

Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.

The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.

94-97
— 3 months ago

Bob, Daniel and 24 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

From magnum. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2012 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with punchy notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, orange rind, red flowers, and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is almost chewy. The 2012 is still an awesome value; really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2042. — 3 months ago

Tom, Jan and 6 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush. — 4 months ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 4 others
Peter, Dave and 5 others liked this
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush.
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

Medium dark rubi robe, nose of top soil, cedar-wood, spices and other secondary notes. Medium bodied, long and with highly polished tannins, this is an excellent bottle, just slightly under the other we got from same 6 bottle case.

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Very nice sipping wine. Fruit forward with a slightly sweet finish. — 4 months ago

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

It’s nice to be born just inside of a great vintage across Europe. Sound and fim, still. at Laurelhurst — 5 months ago

Brian, Tom and 2 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

The cool 88 vintage is in a great spot—gamey and savory, a perfect food wine, particularly with the aged duck! — 6 months ago

Ted, Tom and 8 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano

Blueberries, herbs, and cedar. Complex, elegant, and intense. Such a lovely wine. Decanted for about four hours and served with lamb — a magnificent combination. — 4 years ago

Rob liked this

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2011

This Pinot is a blend from three California counties. Tons of fruit and a bit of pepper made this an instant delight. — 14 years ago

Drew Stiles
with Drew

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. — 2 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.

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Ancient. Otherworldly. Eternal and undying. The ultimate vampire wine. $101 a bottle resto cost. Picked up a 6-pack and we’ll see how it does. You either get it or you don’t. 7.8.26. — 2 months ago

Ted, Paul and 18 others liked this
Daniel Bloom

Daniel Bloom

I used to sell @ChateauMusar to unsuspecting customers at an airport wine bar with a forward thinking mgr.
Snuck it into flights of three samples and then watched as whole glasses were ordered and minds widened.
Now…I’m taken aback at what these beauties command.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Daniel Bloom For the pricing of a 25 year old wine that kicks absolute tuckus and blows minds, it’s ridiculously affordable.

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2019

Jj Joe
9.5

What a surprise, good for korean foods and chicken too — 3 months ago

Ruud, Tom and 1 other liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

2010 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately. Lean and mean. Medium body but only because of the concentration. Dark fruits and plenty of espresso influence evident. Slightly less delicate than other P-C efforts fortunate enuff to taste. Tighter than the outstanding 2009 upon initial impressions. Needed more time to coddle this one but couldn't carve it out. ***EDIT 6.27.26***Delectable was having a moment during the review process and couldn't access previous wines/research properly, so went with memory. Ha so bad. It WASN'T the 2009 I thought I previously had. Actually confused vintages and had this exact 2010 vintage on 12.5.25 (9.6) with enough time to appreciate properly. The 2010 quickie was still nice at 9.4 but not nearly as good as being 9.6 romanced properly. 6.20.26. — 3 months ago

Joel, Jeroen and 14 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I might have exited the planet by the time the well made 2010 Bordeaux’s peak.

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1988

Super clean and still quite youthful, this is a GREAT example of a 1980s CdP from a vintage of little surmaturite, so awesome balance and perfect acidity suggests this vintage will easily last another 5-10 years!! — 4 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Scott@Mister, Tom and 5 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

What a triumvirate of CDPs!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, another example of a great bottle outperforming critical reviews — of the 3 CdPs, the ratings given years ago would have been higher for the ‘89 Beau and ‘90 Pegau!!

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2012

Lemon yellow. Fine bubbles. Elegant aroma with something in the deep area. Creamy. Aged flavor. Changed a lot. Dried brioche came out later and quite impressive. Louis Roederer Cristal 12 @9750, wine plus - vic, 260510 — 4 months ago

Ira liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

From mag. Dark plum, cherry and still fresh oak. A little young — 5 months ago

Walker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Walker and David
Juan, Iwan and 5 others liked this

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. — 6 months ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend 2016

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates and black pepper.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, cooked cherries, light green vegetables, spices, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old red blend from California is still drinking beautifully. Complex and interesting. Nice to see that it aged nicely.

Showing slight RS on the palate, but I can live with that.

Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60.
— 7 months ago

Andrew, Ted and 9 others liked this
Dick Schinkel

Dick Schinkel

Big Cheers dear Winefriend 👌🍷