Jay Kline

9.4

The first of my small tranche of 2019 Cuvée Reservée’s and I figured it would be fun to share with the Tasting Group. Popped and poured and presented double-blind. The wine pours a translucent, deep ruby with magenta rim, near opaque core, medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine was clean with macerated raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate fruits. There were purple flowers, some black pepper and rocky minerality along with a slightly gamey note which was quite charming. Both the fruit and non-fruit characteristics were confirmed on the palate. The wine finishes dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. There’s a compelling sense of power and energy in this wine. Everyone was in the Rhône but most were in the North; from Saint Joseph to Cornas, citing that they believed this was Syrah. However, two in the group called Châteauneuf du Pape and one actually called producer (!!) but missed on vintage (2016). Universally, the wine was fawned over and the dude who called Pagaü thought he actually favored the 2019 over the 2016 he had a while back. While I’m not sure I would go that far, the 2019 is truly quite stunning already and seems to have the guts to see a very long and wonderful life ahead. These are currently enjoying their customary early drinking window however, that window will likely close within a year or so and then I could see this shutting down pretty hard until 2025 — 2 years ago

Patrick Fishman

9.9

Yummy, Bold & smooth — 4 years ago

with Dana

Shay A

9.5

Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!

I had the ‘16 about 4 months ago and found it to be more rich as this was slightly more mineral like in profile. It’s undoubtedly still massive and a beautifully round wine though. Maybe this vintage is slightly more elegant and finesse driven. Floral, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and sea salt aromatics. Focused and clean on the palate with honeyed almonds, wet rock, and lemon oil. Thanks @Weston Eidson . — 5 years ago

with Andrew, Michael and 8 others

LM Segal

9.7

A standout that got better with every sip. Rich and velvety. Bacon fat and smoked meats. Seamless. For most of the group this edged out a punching-above-its-weight ‘04 Pegau. Perfect extraction and pronounced woodsy tannins suggest 10-20 more years of evolution. — 5 years ago

Kerstin Diesch

9.0

Light, fruity, simple. — 6 years ago

Nancy Burroughs

9.0

Opened at Marco’s Kabobs on Friday, the 13th (10/13/2017). — 7 years ago

Norah Gustafson

9.0

Def needs to breathe, but I'm into it. — 7 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

This week our group tasted nine Cabs from arround the world, all from the 2001. Really interesting what 20 years of aging can do depending on the terroir. This had pronounced bell pepper which threw me off (Bordeaux? Aussie?) ranked it in the middle of the (amazing) pack. — 3 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Tasting group My 2nd, group 1st. BD distanced tasting. Chocolate, hint of peppermint, dried cherries. Plums. Ripe and broad but nice acidity. Long. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!

Able to taste this next to the ‘98...this is in a better spot now. A very round, soft and plush profile. There are mulberry, soft plum, fig and cherry liqueur aromatics while the palate showed more bayleaf, faint traces of herbs and leather, underripe blackberries and cherries. This actually drank quite youthful. Enjoy now! Thanks @Will Adams . — 5 years ago

with Michael, Jack and 8 others

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde.

This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty.

The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot.

Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

The first of two GPLs from the evening. Lots of saddle leather mixed with ripe fruit on the nose. Underripe black-cherry on the palate with an herbal dominants finish. Drink now. Thanks @Will Adams . — 5 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Tasting group 5th, my 1st place. Blind. Dried sweet cherries in aromas. Cherry juice/concentrate. Dry tannins. Bitter balance. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!

Another Joe contribution, and another wine pushing for WOTN. My first Peter Michael red. Elegant, refined and 100% smooth. One of the best cabs I've had in recent memory. Can't believe this is an '01 based on the dark fruit and tannic structure. Wish I had some PM in my cellar! — 7 years ago

with Mark and Weston

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.3

5/2/21 Tasting group. My 2nd, group 2nd. Cherries. Leather. Very pretty. — 3 years ago

Steven Lee

9.8

Lucky can have a group gathering on nye 2020. They change the rule last min. Decided to open this not ready bottle to celebrate.
Really really good nose. Can really smell perfume and very floral. Oyster shell and mineral. Very good. Bubble gum and stony. Only know what a perfume wine smell like after smelling this one. Wotn and wot year — 3 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Tasting group. My 1st, group 1st. Stones. Stone fruit, canned peaches. Hay. Full feel, tart balance. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group night. Our theme was American oak vs French oak. All wines tasted blind. We started off with two bottles of bubbly and finished with two non-themed reds.

I’ve had the AV ‘07 a few times over the last year and notes are consistent. Classic American oak notes of dill and coconut, with tobacco leaves and dusty blackberries. Balanced. Palate showed cocoa dusted dates, fig, and blackberries. I called this Cali cab with American oak. Thanks @Benjamin Keator — 5 years ago

with Ryan, Will and 4 others

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

This was one of my favorites of the night. One of the best young Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted. Ripe and modern nose (fruit forward) with smoked meat and baked blackberry pie. The palate revealed cocoa/dark chocolate, baking spices and a hint of blue fruit wrapped by black fruit. Big. Will obviously get better, but was shocked how good this was now. I called this ‘12-14 Left Bank. — 5 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Mark Flesher

9.1

This wine was in a pretty good place tonight, although it was reportedly pre-decanted and aerated before being packed up and enoyed with the group. The biggest thing I remember thinking with this one was "I cannot believe this one is almost 10 years old" as the youth in this wine was quite impressive. There was a raspberry cough drop note that was quite present in this wine, with a lavender as well that was very expressive. Really enjoyed this one tonight. — 7 years ago