Third Leaf Wines

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes of black & red berries, truffles, loamy soil, worn leather, tobacco leaf, floral, herbaceous. Taste: soft, elegant, balanced, layered mouthfeel wine with blackberry, dark plum, leather, crushed granite, dried herbs, and a spiced cedar long finish with some dusty tannins. YUM! At the start of its drinking window with 20-30 years to go, so no rush. — 7 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Cassandra and 18 others liked this
Somm David T

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Nice!!!

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

2011 might be a forgotten vintage but this CB is really memorable. Did a pop and pour and it had great aromatics straight away. Medium to full bodied. Velvety. Layered. Dark berries, herbs, black tea, licorice, bay leaf. First wine on the trip to France. Great start! — 2 years ago

Andrew, Ron and 2 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1994

Taken to Merrimans in Waimea on the Big Island. Darkish tawny, not quite opaque. Notes of black cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar, plums, cigar box and some spice. Super silky. Paired perfectly with my ribeye. The waiter said it best, “Oooh… Yummy!” — 3 years ago

Ira, Josh and 20 others liked this
Vino Joe

Vino Joe

Jealous

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2002

VA, dark licorice, allspice, brown sugar, banana, cedar, smoke, veal, dried bay leaf, candied red and black currants. Balanced between medium+ acidity, medium smooth tannins, and fruit concentration. Finished long.... Tasting while watching the excellent documentary Wine and War in which Serge was just chilling... in the warfare — 5 years ago

Sybaritewino and Ira liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1953

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 5 years ago

Tom, Alex and 28 others liked this
Iwan

Iwan

Amazing
David L

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One hell of a pull

Black Ankle Vineyards

Leaf-Stone Syrah 2012

Aging beautifully! Still loads of currant and lavender. Add a touch of iodine and some more black fruit, mix with lean tannins and fine acidity. Here is to Maryland wines! — 7 years ago

William, Velma and 9 others liked this
James Cahill

James Cahill

I’ve enjoyed this wine as well. Thoughtful winemaking here.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1998

Full bodied w/ leathery tannins. Cherries w/ mild hint of cassis. Tasted along side of the '98 Araujo and '97 Dalla Valle. Insignia came in third. What a fun dinner!! — 9 years ago

ADAM STROMFELDJoe LuccaMeghan Zobeck
with ADAM, Joe and 2 others
Joe, Jonathan and 18 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

Big lush, dark fruit that has not reached its peak window yet. But she ain’t far away. I was able to obtain a vertical of 01,02,03,& 04. My first foray into that vertical. No rush on this one but very impressed. Leather, pepper, if not cigar leaf here . Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on here and my lack of Cali knowledge has new intrigue — 7 months ago

Vino, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 10 months ago

Ira, Jan and 29 others liked this
Somm David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1970

Seven hours decanting and finally some beautiful fruit began to blossom. Loads of life but would be better the second and third day. — 5 years ago

Jay, Ira and 33 others liked this
David L

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Had the same experience with this a few years back. Enjoyed it even more than the 68. @Greg Gregory @Bill Bender
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Wow. I don’t think I would have tried decanting this for that long.
Bill Bender

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👏🏼

Gramercy Cellars

The Third Man Columbia Valley Grenache 2017

Fruit forward, lush — 5 years ago

Thomas SorboJack Sorbo
with Thomas and Jack
Thomas and Paul liked this
Paul K Sorbo

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Looking good!
Thomas Sorbo

Thomas Sorbo

A new family tradition!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Mid crimson with a garnet rim. Lovely aromas of Tobacco and dried leaf. Beautiful balance on the palate with M intensity. Great effort for a difficult hot vintage. Great wine given the conditions. No need for further cellaring. As good as you could expect from a 15 year old 2nd growth in a hot vintage. — 8 years ago

Daniel, Ira and 22 others liked this

Turning Leaf Vineyards

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Nice! Juicy with notes of oak and vanilla. 😀🍷 — 9 years ago

Shirakawago

Bamboo Leaf Sasanigori Junmai Ginjo

Excellent unfiltered sake with a fabulous chef’s counter winter omakase. — 9 months ago

ESF liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2017

Wine 1, with rack of lamb. As my drinking history shows, Raffault is a perennial favorite. 2017 is easy access with medium weight, wild red berry fruit, tomato leaf, and earth. Drink over the next five years. Holding ‘09, ‘14, ‘15, and ‘18 with patience. — 9 months ago

romo, Andrew and 6 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.

This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.

I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.

Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.

Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125.
— 2 years ago

Paul, Joseph and 27 others liked this

The Third Twin

Nuestra Seniora Del Tercer Gemelo Red Blend 2017

Redemption
Definitely a 2nd day wine, but I’m happy with the first glass tonight
Composed of 42% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre, 15% Petite Sirah, 12% Graciano, 11.5% Syrah and 2.5% Viognier, employing 18% whole clusters,
— 3 years ago

Shay, LM and 21 others liked this
Shay A

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These are really good. After the last 3-years, I gave up my allocation to a buddy. At $330/bottle all in, it adds up quickly.
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Yes I stopped buying as well,
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

2nd day with a decant is impressive,
1 bottle left, I’ll repeat the process

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

Youthful & drinking like a 10 yr old Cab. Lots of red & black fruits, cassis, menthol, cedar, leather, licorice & tobacco leaf. — 5 years ago

Shay, Severn and 17 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2007

La Rioja Alta 2007 Grand Reserva 904- cherry, forest spice, forest red and black berries, cinnamon, slight leather, mushrooms, bay leaf, dried herbs, sousbois, smooth drying resolved tannins that are fondue like, a small element of astringency. The color has fallen out yet very traditional style Rioja. — 7 years ago

Ira liked this

Fourth Leaf

Rob and Angelina Mondavi's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Outstanding. Winner of the weekend. — 8 years ago

Shawn liked this