The Color Collector

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart mixed fruit: Blackberries, black cherry, dill, olives, leather, toasted coconut, some vanilla, dried green herbs and 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 long. This is in a very lovely place. Drink now through 2044.  — 4 months ago

Ely, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish, cloudy rim.

Red fruits on the nose with light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, earth and light chocolates notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, herbs, light vegetables, earth, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Nice finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 10 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint Estephe is starting to drink beautifully now, but still feels young.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine in 10 years.

Rich, but not extracted. Soft and elegant. Fruity and complex. Nicely balanced and interesting.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with food too.

A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in all New French oak barrels for 20 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$180.
— 5 months ago

Dave, Daniel and 17 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Deep purple color. Aromas of raspberry, cherry cola and cedar. This one is still young and a little tight- definitely needs more time or decanting. Very good flavors of red fruit, spices and oak finish.

95.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.1% Merlot, 1.4% Cabernet Franc, 0.7% Petit Verdot, 0.6% Malbec

🏅94 Points- Decanter
— 7 months ago

Anthony, Scott@Mister and 14 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2013

Dang this is drinking well. Subdued fruity nose and rich purple color. Great balance with spice and tons of black fruit. Tempted to say hold but not too long so one can enjoy the fruits — 8 months ago

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

What a phenomenal wine. Great color, smooth, full body, tons of flavor. Our favorite wine and at a price point that is affordable for special occasions ($50). Edges out another in this vein, Caterwaul. Cheers — 8 months ago

Ted, Andrew and 1 other liked this

Château Rieussec

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2002

Shay A
9.1

*Color isn’t quite as dark as the picture shows*

Followed over a few days. Consistent profile.

From 375ml

Advanced caramel color with a tinge of orange. Thankfully, aromatics are as expected with orange marmalade, caramel and toffee. Viscous and weighty profile with low acidity. Faint notes of honey roasted nuts on the palate, but it’s mostly an orange marmalade, caramel and apricot dominated profile. Finish shows good length for what is considered an off-vintage, with the apricot and some bourbon vanilla. Good on its own. Drink now.
— 10 months ago

Ira, Tom and 25 others liked this

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Blackberry jam nose with some leather, tar and leaf litter. Color is quite opaque and garnet with just a little bricking. Lots of dark ripe fruit and preserved fruit on the palate. Full body, quite rich, powdery, and tannins still quite prominent. Very satisfying. Just entering its prime- may be better in 5-10. — 5 years ago

Mike, Severn and 18 others liked this

Daou Vineyards

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Dark red in color, slight bite, very smooth finish. — 6 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 9 years ago

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah 1994

Peter Marks
9.5

21 years old, so legal to drink. And ready to drink too! Hard to believe this is more than 10 years old. Color is ruby; fruit shows some dried notes but is still juicy and bright; tannins have mellowed beautifully. — 10 years ago

Gordon, Joey and 2 others liked this

Bodegas Faustino

Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1999

Saman Hosseini
9.4

Deep ruby in color. Bursts with sour cherry, cedar, savory tobacco and leather. Neither gamey nor oxidized. Tannin and fine and silly and finishes with lithe acidity. — 12 years ago

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Solid! Beautiful deep purple color. Aromas of blueberry, leather, black cherry cassis and cocoa. Amazing dark and blue flavors, very well balanced. — 5 months ago

Dave, Tom and 10 others liked this
Ron R

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👀

Matthiasson

Matthiasson Vineyard Ribolla Gialla 2019

Paul J
9.2

Such a great food wine!

Classic orange/gold color. Less acidic and bold as prior vintages. Orange, melons, and spaghetti sauce (??) dominate. Lovely texture,
— 5 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Shay and 3 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 5 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Deborah and 18 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Another tip: I keep a bottle in the fridge to pour decanted sediment dregs into, and use it (except for the muddy bottom part) for cooking. That way my coq au vin or daube is braising in really good stuff from my cellar!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Tom C, good notes. Thanks for the tips. Cheers!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x x I find the sediments can be bitter and usually try to remove them so they don't impact the wine. Hate them all over the side of the glass. Cheers!

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Steve and 20 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Love this JP vintage!

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Deep ruby color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and boysenberry with hints of mocha. Licorice, dark chocolate and oak flavors. — 9 months ago

Tom, Tom and 6 others liked this

Carnivor

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Dark rich color, full bodied and very smooth! Definition will buy this wine again! 2017 vintage — 5 years ago

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot

Dark, inky color. Aromas of boysenberry jam, licorice and mossy forest floor. Black and red fruit on the palate, mocha and tobacco finish. Big and bold. — 6 years ago

Mike, Tom and 10 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

Nice selection of wines!🍷

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1995

Tangy in color. Deep and sweet and voluptuous with great toasty fruit. Lemon curd and honeyed with bright white flowers and huge thrust. Very good — 7 years ago

Gregg GRick K
with Gregg and Rick
Rick, Daniel and 18 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1991

1991 vintage. Rating 9.4. Beautiful garnet color. Incredibly smooth. Note the fire in the background in the outdoor fireplace. Lovely evening with my beautiful wife. Life could not be better! — 10 years ago

Zachary liked this

Château d'Esclans

Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé Blend 2013

2013 Whispering Angel Rosé. Pale salmon color. Light berries in the nose. Flavors of red berries, a little citrus. Long finish. — 11 years ago

Wine and Trump2020 liked this

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2014

2014 - Vintage Domaine Tempier “La Tourtine” 80%-Mourvedre 10%-Grenache 10%-Cinsault ( no Carignan in this wine) red rim mediums red color, a lot of other than fruit aromas earth,mushroom, sage, undergrowth, black fruit beautifully presented with medium tannins softening nicely. This is out of a magnum ( good time to start drinking but definitely some time left) they have different names on the label signifying different blends this is the La Tourtine but they also have “La Migoua” and just a Bandol with no designation label says 11%-14% ( I bet on the 14%) — 5 months ago

Daniel, Austin and 9 others liked this
"Odedi"

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Delicious

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). An amazing dark garnet color. On the nose: You must breathe in this captivating nose of dark red fruit, herbaceous, smoke, sweet florals, worn leather, licorice. Taste: layered, balanced, silky wine with brambly raspberry/cherry, peppery tobacco, gravel, smoked leather, tar, and a long drying finish. YUM! No need to hurry plenty of time to go. — 5 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Paul and 22 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Château Latour is an iconic estate in the Pauillac commune on the left bank of Bordeaux, achieving coveted ‘First Growth’ status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

The estate has roots dating back to the 14th century and derives its name ‘La Tour’ from a fortress tower built during the Hundred Years’ War, which no longer exists but is prominently featured on the label in recognition of its history.

We weren’t sure what to expect, as many have predicted these 1983s are likely past their prime, but this wine was a masterpiece. 🤩

It was medium garnet in color with expressive notes of cedar box, cigar, clove, peat, leather, forest floor, fig, prune, dried black cherry, plum, cassis, blackberry compote, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, dried violet, potpourri, kalamata olive, pencil shavings, graphite, & bacon fat.

It had the most velvety, fine-grained tannins that washed across the palate with ease, with a gentle but notable acidity that maintained lift and balance. It was concentrated, complex, and had a long, elegant finish.
— 6 months ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Ted and 18 others liked this
Paul K

Paul K

Happy Birthday @Vanessa way to celebrate in style!
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Paul K Thank you for the bday wishes! It was an auspicious and delicious way to start my next trip around the sun ☀️ Cheers! And we hope to reconnect with you guys soon! 🍾🥂
Paul K

Paul K

We will absolutely figure out something this summer!!!

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Shay A
9.3

(Two previous 1983 vintage wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from CT).

My experiences with 1983s has been fairly positive, and this PL certainly is among the better I’ve had from the vintage. Holding color nicely with deep ruby and slight bricking around the rim. Started off a bit dense and muddled, but hit stride about 30mins later with a mix of red and black berry fruit, cassis, a streak of herbal green down the middle (something I always get with PL). Excellent example of the fruit showing lots of flavor without being overly ripe. Leather, sweet pipe tobacco, graphite, and still some vibrancy at the finish with tannin structure. Clean and elegant at this stage. Showed well over the course of two hours. Drink up and enjoy.
— 9 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 34 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Somewhat disappointing for a great producer in a great year. Medium body medium color, dark fruit hint of tobacco.
Hopefully a few more years will improve this wine.
— 3 years ago

Michael liked this
Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips

the Beaucastel was the 2007

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1984

1984 vintage. Cork difficult to extract, ended up in several pieces. Beautiful deep color, little to no bricking even at this age. Seductive at one hour+ of air with black cherry, raspberry, some vanilla, green pepper, graphite. 12% ABV. From the FIL’s collection. — 6 years ago

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Delicious!!! Ripe dark fruit, long finish, deep dark color with a soft pallet! — 6 years ago

Jolie-Laide Wines

Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard Trousseau Gris

Tons of loud notes of rose petals, stone fruit, citrus pith. Also, that color. So much fun. — 9 years ago

Anthony liked this

Louis Latour

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2012

Derek Cohen
9.5

Light golden color, nose with cream and baking spices, fresh apple pie. Palate has gold apple, green melon, vanilla, little bit of oak spice. Little bit rich (partial malo) but not overwhelming. Medium acids. round finish. has potential many more years of maturation. #latour #grandcru #cortoncharlemagne — 10 years ago