Twigs

Ghost Cellars

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Greg Ballington
9.0

Perfect wine for a party with a halloween theme.

Dark garnet red core with a little bricking on the edges. A bit of acetone on the nose and a touch toasty with smoked berries. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium bodied. A little jammy on the palate but minimal with some layered dark berries, twigs, spices, bark and gravel. Dry medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2023.

Made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. Aged for 20 months in 40% new French oak, and then an additional 6 months in the bottle prior to release. Only 314 cases produced.|Sample provided by Winery, retail price is $85.00.
— 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Ron, Laura and 15 others liked this

De Toren

Fusion V Stellenbosch Red Blend 2014

Greg Ballington
9.1

Second red wine at Table #4 at Oakton Wine Shops Bucket List Tasting.

Deep ruby red with a touch of garnet. Mute nose to start but still tight with barnyard and meaty undertones. Some dark berries, and perfume. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) with a rich palate. Dark berries, gravel, spices and twigs. Full bodied with a long and dry finish. Drink till 2028. (91+)
— 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Eric, Shay and 15 others liked this

Long Shadows Vintners

Feather Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Greg Ballington
9.0

More for #wawinemonth! Not the same as other wines by Randy Dunn but solid WA Cab.

Deep ruby red. Layered and slightly aged nose with damp forest floor, baking spices, black cherries and dark red berries. Moderate tannins (7/10) and medium plus body. Definitely needs time to open and has a touch of heat. Complex palate with some bitter dark cocoa, dark fruits, twigs and black cherries. A bit angular but leveled out with time. A touch vegetal with a super long finish. Drink till 2020.
— 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Eric, Jeff and 14 others liked this
Eric

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Great note

Efeste

Feral Evergreen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Greg Ballington
9.1

This is the 2013 Petit Verdot Taylor Mag Vineyard.
Sample. Deep and dark ruby red. Dark nose with notes of leather, broken twigs, leaves, cherries and blue fruits in the finish. Even something a little metallic but it wears off. Moderate palate (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Rather nice on the palate; notes of dark black cherries, dark cocoa, cherry cola and a little savory too. Full bodied and excellent Petit Verdot! Drink till 2023.
— 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Hugh, Jonathan and 9 others liked this

De Toren

Z Merlot Blend 2011

Greg Ballington
9.1

Deep garnet red. South African funk, like damp leaves, wet clay, sundried tomatoes and red cherries in the finish. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) probably will grow once it airs out. Balanced acidity and semi dry. Broken twigs with red currants and cherries. Needs some time to open up and develop. Medium bodied with a medium plus finish but potential is there. Drink till 2021. — 8 years ago

India Okoh
with India
Mike, David and 11 others liked this
Greg Ballington

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@Jody Scharf will have to give that credit to @India Okoh haha
Bryan Flewelling

Bryan Flewelling

Does an un-broken twig have a different aroma than a broken one?
Bryan Flewelling

Bryan Flewelling

I've had tons of red wines with clearly defined "un-broken twig aromatics"--think it's a chemical compound chain that doesn't integrate with reductive-style reds(?)...

Mt. Brave

Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Greg Ballington
9.3

Delicious mountain fruit. Deep ruby red with purplish hues. Dark cherries, almost like a cherry liquor on the nose. Dark mountain berries coating the palate. Some blueberry cola, fresh twigs and red cherries. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Great backbone and structure. Dry and long finish. Even has something a little savory on the palate. Great mountain juice built for the long haul. Drink till 2036. — 9 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India

Jauma

Rachii Wood Vineyard Grenache

Spice and twigs, strawberries. Beautiful feel. 2015 — 9 years ago

Château Gazin

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Fresh black cherry and blackberry on the nose, I was expecting a bit more earth aromatically. The terroir shows up on the palate with twigs and subtle hints of the soil. The finish is solid but not too tight for how young this wine is. I anticipate a very graceful expression will develop as fruit calms down and nuance creeps forward. Age this guy if you can. — 9 years ago

Patrick liked this

Tenuta Castelbuono

Montefalco Rosso Sangiovese Blend 2009

Real woody. Not too bitter, not too sweet. Tastes like twigs and branches in the best way possible. — 10 years ago

Highflyer

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2010

Big herbaceous nose at outset. Lots of alcohol in the nose but i know this vintage so let it breathe. Nose gives way to bramble patch and twigs. High alcohol nose betrays the first quaff which is smooth. Smooth leather and bramble berries with an ever so slight cigar note finish. Look-if you can get this for the price do it. Period. — 10 years ago

Roxana Grieve
with Roxana

Macedon

Pinot Noir

Interesting Pinot noir.. Unique taste. Pleasantly smooth and fruity, with undertones of oaks and twigs. Medium@finish. good price this moth from chairman’s selection at state store. — 8 years ago

Chaix Wines

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Greg Ballington
9.2

Fourth of the blind red wines at this quarter's S&E Wine Club, which for red was either Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or Merlot from either Rutherford or Stags Leap District. Thanks Tom and Andrea!

Deep purplish red. Layered nose with anise, licorice and dark fruits. HEavy tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Lots of minerality, dark berries, twigs, cinnamon, anise, spices and some great structure. Long and lingering finish. Have only briefly heard of this wine before and quite impressed. Drink till 2028.
— 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
David, Daniel P. and 10 others liked this

Matanzas Creek Winery

Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Twigs resturant Blowing Rock, NC. Very good wine and lovely winery!
— 8 years ago

Kale Wines

Kick Ranch Vineyards Home Run Cuvée Grenache Blend 2010

Greg Ballington
9.4

Great final night dinner with Kale and Ranko Anderson. First of the reds:
Deep ruby red with purplish hues. Nose started off with very savory with tons of olive tapenade and leather. After around 30 minutes it completely changed with purple floral notes and tight black and blue berries. Well integrated moderate tannins (6/10), and balanced acidity. Plush palate with dark berries and layers of savory undertones and twigs. Excellent structure and built to last. Drink till 2025.
— 8 years ago

India Okoh
with India
Bill, Daniel and 21 others liked this
Justin Brilman

Justin Brilman

@Greg Ballington enjoyed this bottle as well, good camping wine

Bodegas Valsacro

Dioro Seleccíon J&D Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2001

Greg Ballington
9.4

Deep and dark garnet red with bricking on the edges. Real depth on the nose; lots of smoky notes, cigar box, tobacco leaves, broken branches, earthy dustiness, truffles, forest floor, damp leaves, and light red currants. A bit of stinkiness but not off-putting. Moderate silky tannins (6.5/10) and very well integrated with tons of red fruits as well as unsweetened dark cocoa, twigs, tree bark and a rustic earthiness. Full bodied and well rounded, no sharp edges. More red cherries at the end of the palate with a little vegetal note in the long and lingering finish. Mouth is definitely salivating at the finish too, great acidity. Drink till 2021. — 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Shay, Ron and 8 others liked this
Greg Ballington

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I'll have to reach out to Randy and check on that haha. Liking the older ones thou!
Shay A

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@Greg Ballington : It's the Texas brand of Lightning Wines...mostly everything is done in TX compared to Napa. Allocation list is already out, but I'm sure if you know Randy he'll help you out. I'm picking some up when stopping by in a few weeks.
Greg Ballington

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@Shay Aldriedge I got to see the bottle last time, real heavy haha

Viñedos de Páganos

El Puntido Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2006

Let the dust blow off for overripe baked blackberries, twigs and earth — 8 years ago

Anthony liked this

Spell Estate

Nichole's Blend Pinot Noir 2014

Greg Ballington
9.2

Decided to try out the entry level Pinot Noir from Spell Estate. A mix of crimson and garnet red. Initially tight on the nose and finally opened up with some dried herbs, floral notes and some toasted sandal wood. Definitely the most floral of the four Pinot Noirs. Some perfumed wood too. On day two and three some meaty and candied notes appeared. Cherry cola on the palate, with the texture too. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and balanced acidity. Lots of dark black cherries, herbs and twigs. Medium body with great structure. Very approachable with a long finish. Drink till 2024. — 9 years ago

Bill, David and 5 others liked this

Vignobles de Gascogne

Reserve des Tuguets Madiran Tannat Blend 2012

Astonishingly good wine. Most guides tell you to pay more than £8 at least and that's wise, but this tipple was infinitely better than the Malbec reserve that set me back £9 from sainsbury. It's silky, deep, vanilla-cherry and unctuous. Can't see through the liquid, buy it by the case before the maker twigs. — 9 years ago

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2010

Earthy notes (twigs and tan bark) mix with beautiful florals and red currant notes. Palate is a combination of mid-palate juiciness and drying, sustained tannin. Beautiful stuff and will last for years. Need time and air. — 10 years ago

Onannon

Gippsland Pinot Noir 2012

Pink, perky, hazy unfined and unfiltered Pinot Noir. Strawberry and rhubarb compote, red berries, smoke and snapped twigs, lovely line and length. Refreshing and a joy to drink. — 10 years ago

Purple Hands Winery

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015

Classic wafts of twigs and berries.

Bright alpine fruits - strawberry, blueberry, rhubarb..

Deep wood anger high fiving Acidic athletics. - a unique back end.

This is part of that Oregon experimentation of the terroir that I love.
One of these things is not like the other.
— 8 years ago

Paul, Ellen and 2 others liked this
Ken Venezio

Ken Venezio

Glad to see Cody is getting a little press.

Agharta Wines

Mountain Terraces Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Greg Ballington
9.1

Bright ruby red. Lovely and layered nose with an attack of floral notes, roses, lilacs, eucalyptus, and some blue fruits. Has some herbal undertones, vanilla, and spices. A touch savory with air. Balanced acidity with medium tannins (6/10). Layered palate with red berries, twigs, a touch savory, and cherries. Great mouthfeel and keeps changing over time. Medium bodied with a medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2021. (91+) — 8 years ago

India Okoh
with India
Bill, Mike and 12 others liked this

Laurel Glen Vineyard

Sonoma Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Greg Ballington
9.3

Perfect wine for my sister's 23rd. Medium to dark garnet red with lighter edges. Interesting nose with leather, mushrooms, more savory notes, a little smoky and only a touch of fruit. Some forest floor as well. Well integrated flavors and tannins (6/10). Layered with tertiary notes, dried cherries, dried twigs and solid earthiness. Solid acidity, holding this wine together. Delicious at 23 years old. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2020. — 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Shawn, Eric and 18 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Greg Ballington
9.4

Deep and dark ruby red. Thick, rich and rounded nose with tons of layers; bramble berries, twigs, baking spices, cinnamon sticks, black and blue fruits. Heavy tannins (8/10) with a beautiful texture, not silky but a little gritty to match this powerful wine. Big and full palate with dark fruits, black cherries, twigs and a little earthy. Full bodied with a super long finish. Drink from 2019 till 2048. (94+) — 8 years ago

India Okoh
with India
Daniel P., Jody and 24 others liked this
Greg Ballington

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@Martin G Rivard bard still needs time, loved the complexity on this!
Martin G Rivard

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@Greg Ballington my only issue with Dunn is they are built to drink 10 years down the road. I've never had one young that knocked me out. I'll definitely have to look this up if you feel this strongly about it. You have a great palate.
Greg Ballington

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@Martin G Rivard thanks, and completely understand that, it is powerful but not explosive like the Bard. We tried a brand new opened bottle and one that had been opened for a day, it needed the day.

Lineage

Livermore Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2013

Greg Ballington
9.2

Tasted side by side with the 2012 Lineage. Deep ruby and garnet red that completely coats your teeth. Straight from opening there were notes of iron, purple floral notes and red cherries. As it opened up over the two hour period there was dark berries, especially blackberries. Started out with heavy tannins (8.5/10) but mellowed out to a moderate tannins (6.5/10) over the two plus hour decant. Still a little bit of heat on the palate that dissipated with time, this wine needs some more bottle age. Full bodied with a long semi dry cherry filled finish. Started off with red cherries and minerality on the palate as well as some spices, savory herbs and raspberries. Over time notes of cassis, of the front end with a ton of red cherries in the mid-palate. Very interesting note of bark and broken twigs just before the finish. Great backbone from the balanced acidity. Give this a little more time in the cellar, the long you wait the more complex this will become, but if you cannot wait give it a nice long decant. Just like the 2012 this has a ton of potential. Another fantastic wine Steven! (92+) — 8 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
"Odedi", David and 9 others liked this

Ruggabellus

Efferus Red Rhone Blend

Red currants and tart cranberries neatly foiled with twigs, briar and dry herbs. Tasty drinking - 2015 — 9 years ago

Bob, Chris and 5 others liked this

Jon Nathaniel

Lavender Hill Chardonnay 2014

Greg Ballington
8.9

This was the first of the three Chardonnays we got from Flora Springs Winery for #ChardonnayDay. Beautiful moderate intensity yellow, completely clear. Definitely a little tight with some slight creamed butter and corn. Later that evening it developed a more complex nose, with a little nuttiness, wet grass, freshly broken twigs and a slightly perfumed undertone. Moderate acidity (6.5/10) with lots of citrus notes. A little sharp to start but definitely smoothed out and became more rounded with more citrus and light oak influences. Slight tanginess, with a medium body and long finish. Needed the time to balance out and was worth the wait. Drink till 2020. — 9 years ago

Ron, "Odedi" and 5 others liked this

Cave des Vignerons de Saumur

Réserve des Vignerons Saumur-Champigny Cabernet Franc 2013

Clear pale/med. concentration of ruby hue fading very slightly at the rim. Aromas of bright raspberry and cherry, graphite minerality/lead pencil shaving, violet florals, bell pepper, bramble/twigs. Palate is remarkably similar to the nose, structured with moderate, round tannins and medium/medium (+) acid. Nice restrained, elegant Cab Franc. First Saumur-Champigny. Another solid effort from Cave de Vignerons de Saumur. — 9 years ago

Domaine Calot

Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes Morgon Gamay 2011

Chris Paul
9.0

Red fruits with some hints of smoke and cardamom. Med + acid, cinnamon, plums, dried twigs. Great easy to drink. #beaujolais #gamay #morgon #gamayzing #unfiltered #redburgundy — 10 years ago

Velma and Robert liked this

Twigs

Reserva Mendoza Malbec 2008

Very good organic 2008 Malbec! Full of earthy flavors with pepper and sweet notes. ~$15 @ Liquor Mart — 12 years ago