Tobin Fine Wines

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Deep ruby , garnet , with thin garnet rim . Quite deep and ripe cassis , violet , blackberry , meaty grafite , sea spray , rich but well balanced . Quite well defined on the palate , blackberry , cassis , grafite . Balanced quite fresh acidity , fine but noticable tannins . Quite good grafite , saline tinged finish . Quite classic in style , with freshness from the cool fruit character and mineral focus , but polished with enough stuffing to age further , and probably improve over the next 5 -10 years and last well a further 10 . — a year ago

Dave, Jan and 9 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2024

Deep Rich and Polished Nose. The substance is pure, fine and Elegant then comes a punch of Power towards the end.
Really nice buddy here.
94-96
— a year ago

Peter and Paul liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2023

So elegant Montrose. It builds up an epic journey in the aftertaste. Rich and opulent as usual but with a fine touch of incredible level.
Softer extraction resulted on a fruitier, more sapid and rounder wine than usual. It feels it’s going to be approachable in its youth.
— 2 years ago

Peter liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Cigar box, pencil lead, also some lovely spicy redfruit aromas, still pretty structured, but showing a deep core of lovely dried redfruits, some sweet fruit notes in the long, lingering finish, very fine LLC!! — 3 years ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Paul, Ira and 8 others liked this

Tobin James

James Gang Reserve Paso Robles Zinfandel 2015

Maybe stored too long. Not the jammy big nose fruit forward wine I was expecting. Still quite nice. — 5 years ago

Jason liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

My second favorite after Ruinart. Lovely fine bubbles exuding citrus, orange marmalade, and just baked brioche. Delicious for brunch and Sunday football. — 6 years ago

Brian liked this

Tobin James

Rock N Roll Paso Robles Syrah 2014

Another excellent Tobin James everyday wine. Aromas of fruit and berries, inky black, well balanced. Very nice — 8 years ago

Tobin James

Silver Reserve Paso Robles Lagrein 2013

2014. As always, consistently fruit forward full of dark fruit the makes you want to have another glass. It has the smooth mouth that goes so well with meat. — 9 years ago

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

Of the 2 Bordeaux drinking the best tonight, but long term the Brane-Cantenac 2005 will outlive this wine by 10 years easy. While very complex, a fine touch a green is traceable.

A classic currant and forest floor nose, fall leaves abound with a spike of spice and a barely there green that while subtle is apparent.

The pleasure here is higher for its more mature tasted and feel, while the brawny 2005 is a better wine it was not as enjoyable to me and feel it will be another notch enter in 3 years, and likely 2 notches better in 5.

The elegance and feel on this wine is ready to go and will easily go another 5+ years.
— 10 years ago

Keith, Anthony and 5 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend

A great champagne! Lovely toast, complexity and very fine bubbles - 1996 vintage — 11 years ago

Tobin James

Ballistic Paso Robles Zinfandel 2011

Mark Salinas
9.1

Dark red in color. A bit of spice on the nose, but mostly fruity. Peppery as expected for a Zin on the palette. A lingering finish is present, but not too long. A good solid Zin to represent the Paso Robles Wine Region. — 12 years ago

Erin SalinasTina
with Erin and Tina
Erin liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

It was fine. Maybe a bit immature but it was unfocused and limited vs expectations. Strong tea notes. Limited fruit and more alcohol than typical. — a year ago

Tom, Jeroen and 20 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Pretty deep garnet ruby , garnet rim . This is pretty open and aromatic, with smoky creme de cassis , grafite , blackberry and cedar , light herbal touches , really quite classic and noble . On the palate this has good balance and density , good freshness also . Ripe , very fine but perceptible tannins . Dark fruits , grafite , tobacco , long and detailed slightly mineral notes on the good length finish . Really elegant , though quite serious and traditional, not easy to pull off. This is drinking perfectly now (Coravin might have helped here , I would certainly decant if I had a full bottle) , though still quite fruit driven with some tertiary complexity coming through . Really harmonious and complex . From now and over the next 15 years, maybe more . At Doppo Restaurant, Soho . — a year ago

Tom, Dave and 16 others liked this
David White

David White

Wow 🚀 that was an exciting line up of wines and it seems like the Pichon, Brunello and Lynch Bages were the cream of the crop
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Had one of mine two years ago. Didn’t think it was ready like a lot 2000’s I’ve had so far. Think it is either a forever vintage or just not living up to the hype of 2000? Cheers! 🍷
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore

I thought this was really quite excellent @Somm David T , it did seem quite open , though this might be to do with it being under Coravin.. I would certainly decant for a while if opening a bottle . Or alternatively leaving for another 5-10 years will do no harm at all . One of the better 2000s I have had , in some ways it is a bit of a hit or miss vintage .. but the peaks are very high . Hope you enjoy your other bottles !

Tobin James

Reserve James Gang Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2017

Inky black. Moderate fruity aroma. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and blueberry. Nice — 4 years ago

Bollinger

Special Cuvée Brut Champagne

Very nice champagne. It’s not quite Krug and the bubbles aren’t quite fine enough but I like the Bollinger style. Seems to find the right balance between depth and fullness and precision. Perfect start to a series of great Christmas eating. — 6 years ago

Lyle, Jason and 13 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Very dark crimson, almost black. Opulent aromas of cassis, mulberry, herbs and earth. Same opulence on the lush rich full bodied palate with notes of milk chocolate and black currant finishing with fine resolved and polished tannins. This to me is a typical high quality Napa Valley Cabernet - so fluid, generous and velvety in my limited experience with the genre. — 7 years ago

Paul, Severn and 23 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Big fan. Cheers! 🍷
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T Very enjoyable.

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2005

A fine rioja. Off a coravin’ed magnum bottle. Loved it — 8 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2014

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc
A little closed up, but that's to be expected from such a young wine built for aging. Air helps to unfold the layers buried within. While 2014 was a cooler year, the weather played well to the style of Sassicaia as its target is 12.5-13% abv every vintage, so the conditions here were less of an issue. The acidity and density are here to last for some time, probably more than you think and should go the distance just fine. Elegant, yet powerful, with pure red currants and cassis, a touch of bright blueberry fruit, with a savory and spicy edge from the Cabernet Franc, then graphite and lavender florals appear, this is a beautiful young and fresh Sassicaia. Rocks and stone on the nose hint at minerality. Elegant and persistent on the medium+ palate, gorgeously pure and distinct with firm medium+ grain tannin. A long, dense, tightly wound finish that is fresh and persistent, entirely to young but with loads of potential.
— 9 years ago

Kimberly, Doctor and 8 others liked this

Tobin James

5 Paso Robles Red Blend 2012

Big Af
8.9

Rich color. Lots of layered flavors. Blueberry. Deep flavor — 11 years ago

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

A bit of oxidation, but otherwise, just fine. Fruit still there. 1970, 45 year old wine for our 45th Anniversary. — 11 years ago

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid medium dark garnet color. On the nose: perfumed notes of red fruit, herbaceous, eucalyptus, mushroom, smoked meat, ripe olives, sweet tobacco. Taste: rich, velvety full wine with brambly dark cherry/plum, coffee, dark chocolate, orange peel, and a peppery- dried herbs- gamey long finish. YUM! A nicely aged and elegant wine with soft tannins and good acidity!! — a year ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 14 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

Presented double-blind. The wine appears straw in color with medium viscosity and, apparently, there lots of tiny bubbles so there are signs of gas, LOL. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe orchard fruit, red forest berries, marzipan, lemon curd, fresh brioche. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity. The texture is ever so creamy. Wow…well, I was drinking something special. Had to be Champagne. Maybe vintage? Maybe a tête de cuvée? The style was similar to Krug. Called Champagne from a producer like Krug. OMG…the 1996 Vintage Brut?! Sheesh…someone was feeling generous! Admitted, I don’t often get to drink vintage Krug (for many hundreds of reasons!) so my experience is obviously limited. However, there’s clearly no question in this being true to house style and, now that I know the vintage, this is showing why 1996 is so special. As others have noted, this is fresher than the 1995 I had some months ago (though, that was very special too) and had greater acid. I would like to think this provides a crystal ball for the 2008 vintage that is sure to follow a similar trajectory. Drinking very fine indeed, right now and should continue to do so through 2046…depending on how you like to drink your Champagne. — 2 years ago

Ira, Ely and 25 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Had this a few years ago, special.

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Sometimes no other wine will do for me than old-style (13% ABV) Bordeaux, and this lovely medium-aged Pauillac absolutely fills the bill, redfruits, structured but not really tannic, great acid balance really lifts the fruit, not a blockbuster, but very fine nonetheless, I could drink a lot of this!! — 3 years ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Severn, Peter and 5 others liked this

Tobin James

Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel 2017

Fruit forward and jammy with light tannins — 4 years ago

Tobin James

Notorious Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

2016. Valerie discover this wine at her Von’s. It is our go-to second wine, and many a time, our first wine. Dry and sophisticated for a $15 bottle of wine. — 7 years ago

Achával-Ferrer

Quimera Mendoza Malbec Blend 2013

Like opening up a box of fine cigars — 9 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Another excellent bottle of this fine cab. — 9 years ago