Think Tank

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2005

Popped and poured out of a 1.5L and this was lights out good. I love the 2005 vintage in Barbaresco and this was a beautiful example and seemed to have so much left in the tank! The fruit was still bright and full of life. Tannins are still firm. Great acid for food and paired beautifully with frutta di mare fra diavolo. Secondary characteristics are just barely creeping into the fore. Wish I had another mag to drink in 2029. — 7 years ago

Dr., Daniel P. and 9 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2010

Shay A
9.2

BBQ & Zin night!

This surprised me. The fruit here wasn’t as sweet as expected. Black peppercorn spice and tart black cherry pie. I think this is actually young and could go quite the distance.
— 8 years ago

Dan FitzgeraldClare GilletteWeston Eidson
with Dan, Clare and 1 other
Anna, Eric and 30 others liked this
Jason Brater

Jason Brater

Love this one!
Jason Brater

Jason Brater

Definitely can hold—had an 08 last month and it’s still got plenty of body to it

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

One of the first bottles I bought when I started collecting. Sat in the back of my closet for 6 months- that was my wine locker back then! Huge fan of this producer. Don’t get sucked into epic vintages solid producers make great wine in any vintage. 01 wasn’t anything to write home about but when you drink this, you think otherwise. — 8 years ago

Adam, "Odedi" and 18 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2001

2001 SuperTuscan heavyweight match with Tignanello vs Flaccianello. This one got off to a slow start in the early rounds with a muted nose and flat palate, but after a couple hours was sparring vigorously with its dark well-extracted fruit, tobacco, and suede. Was it enough to take the title? Perhaps not, as I think the aromatics were never quite up to the task - but bravo ragazzo! — 9 years ago

Severn, Shay and 10 others liked this
Bill Bender

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You sound like Michael Buffer @Michael Meyer
🥊
Michael Meyer

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I’m ready to rumble 💥

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

It was too young and overall very tight even with 5 hours of decanting. I think we opened this at an awkward time in its evolution. — 10 years ago

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

Somm David T
9.2

The nose on this wine is stunning baring the alcohol heat. Perfumed red florals and candied dark and lighter red fruits. While the wine is truly elegant, the alcohol is seriously burning the back of my throat. The bottle reads 14.1 but I think over 15 degrees. Maybe, they wanted to save on the higher alcohol tax. The wine starts so beautifully only to burn the back of my throat. The fruits are ripe, elegant and beautifully soft. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, faint back palate of strawberries, sweet/soft leather, black licorice, violets & roses, rich delicate & sweet wet black earth, soft light baking spices, caramel, milk chocolate, figs & dates, amazingly sweet dark minerals, touch of black tar, touch of spice and a rich long elegant dark fruit liqueur finish. I would score this wine higher if it didn't punish my palate and throat with the burning alcohol finish. — 10 years ago

Eric, Paul and 14 others liked this
TheSkip

TheSkip

Great post and picture!!
Somm David T

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Thank you.

Maybach Family Vineyards

Materium Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

I think this one was my favorite of last night's Oakville tasting. — 11 years ago

Paul, David and 25 others liked this
David L

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This is an amazing Vineyard!
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Glad I bought a case when it was released, only $160.00 at the time, favorite wine of 2012
David L

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Wow... can't wait to try. Love love love that wine

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

I'm going to come clean, I'm not a huge Caymus fan. It's by no means a bad wine - far from it - but I've always felt they blend their Cab with too much Zin. I could be wrong on that account, but I don't think I am. Still, a nice brooding nose of dark red and blue fruit, with a touch of candied fruit and wet earth. — 11 years ago

Cory and Jennifer liked this

Tenuta delle Terre Nere

Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese Blend 2012

Very nebb-like. Darker, richer fruit than in '10, and I think the tannins are a bit riper, with lower acid. — 12 years ago

jerod liked this
Matt Ryan

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Had this last week. Seriously good. Esp two days later. Ashy finish.

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1970

Showed very well. Classic and balanced. Drink up though not improving I think. — 13 years ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

WOW! I haven’t had a BV PR in several years but I’m impressed with this bottle. I think I will go purchase some more of this. I remember a Palm Springs wine shop that had a multi-year vertical display of the BV 20+ years ago. — 7 years ago

Billy liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

88 mouton with Keith harding art work. The nose upon opening was sublime. As it decanted and opened, it was a bit disjointed. Has a lot of potential but at this age I think it’s not going to come together. The nose weakened, and the body to finish is a bit jarred. — 8 years ago

David and Sylvain liked this

Bonny Doon Vineyard

Le Cigare Volant Red Rhone Blend 2013

I love smelling the wines of Randall Grahm. He makes savory walk and talk and jump through hoops. This wine, the 30th anniversary vintage of Cigare, brings it home like it always does. It shows a medium dark color in the glass and on the nose. There is cassis and licorice, but the savory notes carry the load. Black olive is the first smell I get, followed by a bit of tar and a whiff of smoke. Cigar box, leather and bacon fat finish out a complex aroma package. The palate is delicious as always. Grahm says the ‘13 is “less muscular” than the ‘12, but I think there's more to it. This Cigare drinks with the weight and elegance of a Pinot Noir. Black fruit is forward, while more savory aspects of sage and mint come in to join it. The tannins are gentle, the acidity fresh and the finish long. — 8 years ago

Tom, Shay and 6 others liked this
P A

P A

@Randy Fuller Good review Cheers 🍷
Randy Fuller

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Thanks, Phil. Cheers!

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2015

I unabashedly love this wine. Night one was all hedonism, with sappy fresh dark fruit, ripe to bursting and currant liqueur. A real celebration of fruit. On the second night it's much firmer, suggesting this could last longer than one might think — 9 years ago

Anthony and Marty liked this
Marty Mathis

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That guy is a winemaking genius...

Bollinger

La Grande Année Brut Champagne 2004

You can smell Bolli in the glass from across the table. I called this one "honey buttered chicken biscuits" I think that about sums it up. Unabashedly huge wine, and thats ok. Delicious. — 10 years ago

Benjamin liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Drinking better overall than the last time. Still a little acidic and the tannins are rough but I think this one is going to improve with more time. — 10 years ago

Ron, Paul and 5 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend

I've always been a big fan of Ridge. I absolutely love the bottles from Lytton Springs and this was my first time to try the Three Valleys. It had a deep concentration in color, and medium width legs. The aromas were pleasant, reminiscent of coconut oil, vanilla bean extract, nutmeg, dusty dessert soil, and oripe raspberries. The pallet was concentrated as well, layered with youthful red fruit, milk chocolate, coffee bean, and a velvety finish. The structure was round, but soft, and didn't scream Zinfandel the whole time. I still think I'm more a fan of the Lytton Springs.. but this was a nice wine as well; a good example of the use of air dried American oak barrels. — 10 years ago

Matt, "Odedi" and 2 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2001

Perfectly integrated, well-ahead of the 1999 (still disjointed a few months ago). Supple, not powerful. Just an absolute pleasure. Red cherries, dried strawberries, rye, subdued tamari with slight balsamic prickle, browned liquorice. This isn't arresting as the '95, but rather it's a quieter, equally thoughtful companion. Effortlessly transportive. With it's constant shifting and ease, it makes me think of friendships. Of the people I've met and the conversations I've loved. Of my friend, Tim, who shared the bottle with me. Of friendships born out of music, climbing, work, school, wine - friendships that transcended the genre in which they emerged.
I wouldn't change anything about this wine.
— 11 years ago

Tim Herrmann
with Tim
Tim, Scorewine and 2 others liked this
Tim Herrmann

Tim Herrmann

I agree wholeheartedly.
9.8
Scorewine

Scorewine Influencer Badge

Lovely note had both the 1999 and the 2002, yet to try the 2001, cheers

Penfolds

Grange Bin 95 Shiraz 1998

Massive is an under-statement. This wine was a Puppy. Many more years of enjoyment left in this wine, I think a minimum of 20 years. Top class Grange and worth the money! 94+ points. — 12 years ago

Michael and Daniel liked this
Chris Morrison

Chris Morrison

Nester I have the same vintage in my cellar. I guess I'll need to salivate a little longer..?
Nestor Tsioustas

Nestor Tsioustas Influencer Badge

Yes! This wine was a beast.. We were all in shock at how youthful it was.

Caymus Vineyards

40th Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

What was meant to be a casual dinner with friends over homemade BLTs ended up turning into a full-blown wine dinner.
.
Eager to see how this develops over the years. As it stands now it’s syrupy with cloves, figs, molasses, and is pretty extracted. I think the potential is there but it’s going to take some time for it to mature and formulate.
— 7 years ago

Becca JohnsonTaryne ElaKrystal Vento
with Becca, Taryne and 1 other
Krystal, Mike and 15 others liked this

Tank Garage Winery

All or Nothing Napa Valley Red Blend 2015

Not bad, only a little bit sweet. Good mouth feel and flavor. — 8 years ago

Matt NicolettiCamilla Carboni
with Matt and Camilla

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1921

Musty basement. Loved it. History. Not many around. Like 10 bottles I think. — 8 years ago

Shay, "Odedi" and 19 others liked this
"Odedi"

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Can we share friends? 🤣
Jody Scharf

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Sure why not@"Odedi" mi amigos su amigos
Peter van den Besselaar

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Old Belgian and Dutch bottlings are often great 👍

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

J PF
8.9

Nice blend.
Jammy, strawberry, blueberry
Savory finish
I think 2015
— 9 years ago

Mike and leon liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

£99 Magnum that RP said "one of the most disappointing St.-Juliens I tasted 84pts" well I think he should retry the great numpty 😜 Still could do w/ 2-5yrs 👍 Great nose but palate still a little tight

🍇 63% Cab S, 25% Mer, 9% Cab F & 3% Pet V

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Smokey oaky earthy farmyard through shy blackcurrant & spiced plum w/ minerals, leather, musky cellar & wet leaves - fab nose 👍

👄 Med earthy mocha blackcurrant body w/ dry tannins & touch of tart cherry

🎯 Med dry earthy blackcurrant finish
— 9 years ago

P, Eric and 6 others liked this

Boulevard Brewing Company

Smokestack Series Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale

One of my favs. Light. Citrus. Floral. — 10 years ago

Dave, Jeffrey and 2 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Tried côte à côte with the Gruaud Larose 375ml, this was a little one dimensional, primary fruit, showing more oak, think it needs another 5 years. — 10 years ago

Pazzu liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1999

Beautifully balanced , received as a gift, dont think I would buy it — 10 years ago

John liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2004

Bright, great acidity. I think in 5 more years it will be incredible. — 11 years ago

jesus liked this

Larkmead Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

I think it is time to crack these. — 12 years ago

Ryan and James liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

Bryan Garcia
8.9

Love Bordeaux's ability to make you think it's a lot younger than it really is. — 12 years ago

Mike Martin   @TheWineShepherd
with Mike
Anthony, Chris and 5 others liked this
Lyle Fass

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Watch out you can get arrested saying that.
Mike Martin   @TheWineShepherd

Mike Martin @TheWineShepherd Influencer Badge

In a perfect place..
9.3