Weekend Wines
Cambria Estate Winery
Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Delicious! From NY weekend, shared with Jared with a salmon dinner. Light, easy drinking. A nice little acidity. Drank too much tbh. — 5 years ago
Ruinart
Brut Rosé Champagne
Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.
The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.
The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.
Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.
Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 6 years ago
Château Montrose
La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
Long awaited weekend after the 5 days of sickness. Steak dinner for food pairing — 7 years ago
Château Phélan Ségur
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
I hope everyone has made it to weekend in good shape. Today I picked up the 2014 Château Phélan Ségur St. Estéphe. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot a typically beautiful St. Estéphe.
The nose is very expressive with notes of raspberries, blackberries, cherries, black plum, black currant, chocolate, herbs, coconut, violets and a nice earth note.
On the palate the nose is confirmed with black cherry, black raspberries, blackberry, black currant, a generous amount of green bell pepper, clove, graphite, light oak and earth.
This wine is full bodied with medium + acidity and medium + firm chewy tannins that leads to a long energetic finish. Have a wonderful weekend and please stay safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 years ago
Kobal
Blaufrankisch 2016
Tonight I have opened the 2016 Kobal Bläufrankisch from Slovenia. This would be my first wine from this part of the world.
On the nose there is cherry, blackberry, licorice, caramelized wood and dry soil.
On the palate I am getting sour cherry, blackberry, herbs, spice and dry soil.
This wine is medium to full bodied with medium + acidity and medium + gripping tannins that lead right to a long tart finish. A nice wine for a very young Bläufrankisch. Over time I'm sure it will fill out but I am intrigued by the tartness. We are starting another weekend so please stay safe and enjoy your weekend of wine. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 years ago
Domaine Drouhin
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2017
Monday night and winter is tearing through our area. I have tonight opened the 2017 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir.
On the nose I am getting aromas of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, mushroom, spice and earth.
On the palate there is tart cherey, raspberry, cranberry, sassafras, spice and forest floor.
This wine is medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel, medium + acidity and medium + sandy tannins which leaves a long red & dark fruit finish. Having had the Joseph Drouhin the other night and the Domaine Drouhin tonight the Joseph Drouhin was just more elegant over all. I hope everyone's Valentine weekend was good. Have a great week, stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 5 years ago
Moët & Chandon
Impérial Brut Champagne Blend
Tonight the wine I have opened is the Moët & Chandon 150th Anniversary Imperial Brut Champagne. The blend is 30-40% Pinot Noir, 30-40% Pinot Munier and 20-30% Chardonnay.
On the nose there is buttery brioche, creme brulee, lemon curd, yeasty bread, hazelnut and apricot.
On the palate there is creamy lemon curd, tropical fruits, pineapple, brioche, hazelnut and a minerality.
This wine is medium bodied with medium + to high acidity that leads into a long toasty citrus finish. Today is the day we spring ahead and so we all lose an hour of our weekend. So what time we have left to the weekend try to enjoy yourselves and please be safe doing so. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 6 years ago
Luciano Sandrone
Le Vigne Barolo Nebbiolo 2013
This afternoon was a treat having the 2013 Luciano Sandrone La Vigne Barolo.
On the nose was some alcohol at first that blew off with a little time, cherry, raspberry, strawberry, licorice, tar, clove, rose petal, leather and earth.
On the palate you will find cherry, raspberry, plum, licorice, clove, mint, spice and dusty earth.
This wine is full bodied and a powerful mouthfeel with medium + acidity and medium + to high smooth sandy tannins that leads to a long elegant fruit finish. A beautiful wine that won't disappoint. Enjoy the coming weekend and please stay safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 years ago
Williams Selyem
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014
Plum and strawberry with acid and plenty of structure. Long sensuous finish. Me wants more. A mega hit at Crab and Fin in St Armand’s Circle on Randy’s Birthday weekend. — 7 years ago
Chappellet
Mountain Cuvée Proprietor's Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015
It is the start of the weekend and I have opened the 2015 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietors Blend. The wine is 37% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 11% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc.
On the nose I am getting black cherry, blackberry, black currant, bakers chocolate, molasses, asparagus, caramel, vanilla, clove and leather.
Upon first sip on the palate the is jammy dark fruit of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, a little heavy on the toasted oak and gravel.
This wine is full bodied with medium + acidity and medium + rich mouth coating tannins that lead to a long lingering oaky dark fruit finish. With the cooler weather continuing into the weekend along with rain it looks like an indoor movie for me, but we will have to check out some other of my reds. Have a great weekend and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 years ago
Mount Veeder Winery
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
This Sunday evening after my work weekend; which was actually one 12 hr. Shift short; (Covid vaccine #2 kicked my behind! ⛑). I have opened this Napa Cabernet!. I am the only wine Connoisseur in the household so my collection is humble and am trying to desperately NOT open certain wines!
I have to remind myself that wine has its journey and sometimes it is just awesome to taste a wine where it is at in this moment!
Sure this might be better in five years, this wine is delicious and reasonably priced! Presents with mild Tannins, Bing Cherry, cedar big time, pencil lead, soft vanilla, mocha and subtle baking spices!
No regrets! Cheers to your work week! Vintage
2018 — 5 years ago
Roger Sabon
Le Secret des Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2007
Now, to top off the Rhone tasting for the weekend. I wanted to pull out some special juice from the cellar and this hit the spot. Sabon’s Secret de Sabon is an ethereal wine in any year- in my mind, it is the perfect, benchmark Chateauneuf. The ‘07, at 13 years old, is jaw dropping. Intense black fruit, kirsch, layered floral notes, mixed with incense and beef blood. Too concentrated to be believed but perfectly balanced. The tannins are like velvety silk gliding across the palate. The wine is almost all Grenache from 80 - 100 year old vines grown in sand and stone and aged in small barrels. Only about 250 cases made per year. Ethereal juice! 2007 vintage on Mar 22, 2020 — 6 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
I corvined this last weekend and put it back in storage for tonight. I had a very different experience & thoughts on this wine last weekend un-decanted. This is wine comes from a period when I loved Caymus. After 2011 when they started picking later and at higher brix’s, they lost me but, got higher Parker scores and rave words from people that like sweeter Cabernet that drinks young.
Last weekend without a decant, very dominate bright cherries and vanilla.
Tonight, the nose reveals, dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominate, baked strawberries, black licorice, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets.
The body is full, sexy, gorgeous and voluptuous. The structure, tension, length and balance are at the start of its high point with another 7-10 years of good drinking ahead. Dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominating, baked strawberries, black licorice to deep anise, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, dark spices with just a touch of palate heat, underbrush, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets. The acidity is like a needed waterfall shower. The long finish is, deep, dark, well balanced, elegant, ruby, ripe, polished and persists endlessly.
It’s been awhile and I’ve missed it. This is a very good example of why I used to adore Caymus. — 7 years ago
Baron-Fuenté
Grande Réserve Brut Champagne Blend
This was the Champagne I selected for our Plate & Bottle dinner last weekend to pair with the cheese and apps reception. Appetizers & cheese were Gougeres with Gruyere and Cherry Mostarda. Summer Spoons with Melon, Basil, Tomato, Whipped Burrata. Caviar Cheesecake with Smoked Salmon.
Not only is this Champagne beyond serviceable, the people I’ve had it with need to stop being surprised how good it is each time we open it, including me. In addition to being very good, it prices at an incredible value. You’ll be hard pressed (next to impossible) to find a better Champagne for the money.
It has a beautiful body, nice acidity and small bubbles. Peach, apple, pear, lemon, lime, brioche, spring flowers and paired perfectly with the Caviar Cheesecake with Smoked Salmon. Poured from Magnum.
Hedy, our friend & Chef dishes are amazing. If she wanted to open her own restaurant, she would earn at least a Michelin Star and perhaps two. You can find her on FB @Plate&Bottle If you live in the Bay Area a must experience! — 7 years ago
Daniel P. Drake
Today I have decided to go to my cellar and pull the 2012 Domaine Berrien Cellars Crown of Cab. One of the best winery's in Southwest Michigan if not the best. This is a Bordeaux blend of 40% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. What a wine from Wally Mauer and the Domaine Berrien winery.
On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, anise, violet, baking spice and crushed gravel.
On the palate I am getting black cherry, blackberries, green bell pepper, black currant, violet, black pepper, graphite and earth.
This wine is full bodied with a smooth mouthfeel, medium to medium + acidity and medium + grippy mouthcoating tannins that leaves you with a long black fruit woodsy finish. What a wonderful Sunday wine. This winery in Southwest Michigan is my absolute favorite and can compete with any California winery out there. I hope everyone's weekend has been an eventful one. Please stay safe and healthy and have a wonderful week ahead. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago