Touch Down

Dark Horse Wines

Limited Release Double Down Red Blend

Joe F.
8.9

Very enjoyable, found this very bold in the first taste and mellowed out towards the finish which was very smooth. Fruity and balanced. — 8 years ago

Laurene Feriozzi
with Laurene

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Somm David T
9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 9 years ago

Sofia, Eric and 22 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Severn Goodwin Would love to get to that region at peak fall. I’ve never done it. Alway wanted to drive the east coast up to Maine.

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This was a house warming gift from a old friend. Love the nose and legs on this wine. Absolutely great for watching the sun go down next to a fire with your favorite someone! — 10 years ago

Sean and Tetsuko liked this

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

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Thank you.

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1992

Thought this would be a bit lean, but pleasantly proved otherwise. Still very full fruit with a touch greenness. — 11 years ago

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

2009 drinking well but could use more time down. Great w the lamb!!! — 11 years ago

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah

Spice, leather, black fruit, black olive. A bit on the down side but still cery good after 3 decades. — 12 years ago

Toshiko, Versie and 15 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1978

James Parker Huston, CWE
8.9

Rolling down the hill quickly! Still fun to try. — 13 years ago

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Very good Rosé champagne. Not as Brut as a typical white version- has a touch of sweetness but still dry. Very smooth, softer bubbles, strawberries & maybe even raspberries. — 7 years ago

Gordon GoldingPeggy Cohen
with Gordon and Peggy

SLO Down Wines

Sexual Chocolate California Red Blend 2015

Not worth its weight in gold nor wine. Over priced but I’d pay for the label all day everyday. Hahaha the French are annoying — 8 years ago

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 1998

Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!

As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍

🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel

👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones

🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger
— 9 years ago

Chris, Serge and 33 others liked this
Juan Pablo Perez

Juan Pablo Perez

One my favorites as well.
Chris England

Chris England

@Juan Pablo Perez we have great tastes 😉👍🍷

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1955

1955 - touch of Bret on nose decent intensity nice — 9 years ago

Keith, Ron and 1 other liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Somm David T
9.4

Bruised golden apple, pineapple, golden raisins, ginger ale, brioche, citrus blend, touch of honey, yellow lilies, quince, orange peel, nut skin, toffee, brilliant acidity, chalkiness and rich long finish. — 10 years ago

"Odedi", Eric and 12 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1961

A lovely settled warm red fruit nose. A touch of sandalwood. Very clear. Really settled. Quite delicate. Good shape — 10 years ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Ara, Pazzu and 13 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Berries, currents, spice, and a touch of cinnamon. Nice. — 10 years ago

Miguel liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Hands down my favorite Cab. Excellent. Not too heavy. Received as a gift. — 11 years ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

This is the 1985 Napa Cab and was tasted out of 5 liter. This wine was excellent! Herbal notes with a touch of saddle. I was so surprised by how much red fruit was on the pallet with a wine this old! Amazing! — 11 years ago

MH liked this

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 1998

1998 vintage. Earthy and roasted almond. Ripe lemon rind. Full bodied. Rich mouth feel. Mocha. Acidity not overbearing - touch light? Long concentrated finish. Excellent — 12 years ago

Sine Qua Non

Turn the Whole Thing Upside Down Grenache 2009

DAG
9.8

@Bill Bender @Roman Sukley @V M @Steve Swaney zigzag dot commerce at verizon dot net and we continue the conversation offline. — 13 years ago

Doug and Shawn liked this

SLO Down Wines

Broken Dreams California Chardonnay 2013

Whole Foods, C Golden, apple, pear, nice acidity — 7 years ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1991

Fab 27yr Old Rioja @ £62 drinking like a Burgundy & perfect in a Zalto Burg glass

🏵 92 points

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brown hue

👃 Leather & balsamic infused mulched spiced cherry w/ soft smoked oak, sherry, wet earth, cocoa, red berry, herbs & gooey date jam

👄 Med smooth, touch tart, red cherry & berry bathed in balsamic w/ a mocha touch

🎯 Med+ touch dry oaky driven red cherry & berry fruits w/ an earthy balsamic caramel figgy linger
— 8 years ago

Chris, Ted and 30 others liked this
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Great $ for that bottle.
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

...Or great £ rather.

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

This bottle on the down slope for me. Copper color. Apricot, buttery, sherry-aldehyde aromas. Great acidity and savory flavors. I’ll chalk this up to bottle variation... have had better — 9 years ago

Craig, Rick and 1 other liked this
Larry Frierson

Larry Frierson

Never had a bad one. Yet.
Craig Williams

Craig Williams

I’ve got a couple remaining so we should see one of these might break your record! 😜 Happy New Year Wishes to all.
Roland Boney

Roland Boney

Same to you Buddy!!! Hope to see you soon.

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2000

A touch sweet, pretty and floral. Rounded and generous with soft minerality. Delicious. — 10 years ago

Naoko Dalla ValleLarry Frierson
with Naoko and Larry
Ceccherini, Ara and 5 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1995

Fantastic 95 Super Tuscan. Nose had hints of vanilla, soft earth a light spice. On open was smooth if a touch flat then after 45 minutes it opened to let dark fruit notes of blackberries and cassis come out. Sublime. — 10 years ago

Rob liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2011

Purple/red flower on the nose, candied cherry, tiny touch of black pepper, thyme, mint, cinnamon, nutmeg, medium plus tannin, a touch of tobacco, cocoa powder, beautiful and velvety. A very nice Chinon. Had pasta asparagus/mushroom pasta with anchovy garlic butter sauce with it. It's a wonderful pairing. — 10 years ago

Anthony liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2004

V complex but elegant nose- kirsch, herbs and olive with loads of meaty dark flavours. let down only by the high alcohol — 11 years ago

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

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Always a great cab, but generally after a 15-20 year lay down. This tasting was still tight, but fruit came through. — 11 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2009

Francis Wilden
9.0

2009: quite dense appearance; ripe black / red fruit w a faint touch of horse hair (Brett ); generously proportioned attack of ripe red and black fruit, leads onto medium weight palate which finishes fruitfully but without the verve of a "classic" vintage. A satisfying and quite delicious drink without being memorable. A lot of 09 burgundies would fit these descriptors. — 12 years ago