Shay A

9.3

We make our annual trip out to Napa in about a week and a half, so I’m enjoying some wines from producers we are visiting. This is from Modus Operandi Cellars. The winemaker, Jason, has become a friend and was who helped Weston from Montagu Wines get started in the beginning. Jason submitted his Modus wines for review to Wine Advocate for the first time and did incredibly well (multiple 93-97pt wines). We are having lunch with Jason on our trip and look forward to his new releases.

The blend on this changes year to year I believe. The aromatics here and very dark and scorched. Roasted plum, dark cocoa dusted dates, cinnamon and licorice. I even picked up some Bordeaux like saddle leather here too. On the palate, it’s got chalky tannin with ripe blue and black fruit, black pepper, and an herbal finish. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

@Benjamin Keator had his hosting at the CC tonight and it was absolutely incredible. What a night of gorgeous wines! All wines are guessed blind.

What an absolute treat. Sarah Francis has crafted some incredible wines, and is a close friend of Weston (from Montagu wines). She’s received monster scores and her quantity is minuscule. That being said, I called this 2012 (right vintage) Aubert (wrong producer), specifically one of their Carneros Chardonnays (got the region right!). It had a lemon cream and lemon tart richness to it with high acidity. Like Aubert’s Hudson was mixed with Aubert’s Lauren. Incredible Chardonnay. — 7 years ago

with Benjamin, Weston and 1 other

Shay A

9.1

Weekly Wednesday Wine Committee and this was a special treat as not only was Weston from Montagu Wines in attendance, but Jason Moore, owner and winemaker for Modus Operandi Wines out of Napa. Blind format as always. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert.

One of the more crisp sparklers I’ve had. Had the chalky minerality through and through, but after a while, it gained a bruised pear note aside from the typical Granny Smith apple tartness. This will age nicely. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Weston hosted Friday group today and was it definitely a can’t miss tasting. Wow! Absolutely knocked it out of the park with heavy hitter after heavy hitter. Similar to Wednesday group, all wines are tasted blind.

This was red number one in a line of outstanding cabs. Obviously a baby, so the score reflects that, but in 15+ years, you can see the 100pt potential that it was decorated with upon release. Right now, it’s very red fruit dominant alongside herbal spice. Seemed to be the most harmonious (fruit vs secondary notes) out of the 5 cabs. — 7 years ago

with Weston

Shay A

9.3

Weston hosted Friday group today and was it definitely a can’t miss tasting. Wow! Absolutely knocked it out of the park with heavy hitter after heavy hitter. Similar to Wednesday group, all wines are tasted blind.

English sparkler ladies and gentlemen! Coming on the scene hot. Most guessed French NV. I wondered if it was possibly high end west coast like an Ultramarine. Loads of apple here. Little yeast and chalk. Great texture and bubbles. — 7 years ago

with Weston

Shay A

9.1

Another weekly wine Committee lunch that I was able to attend, hosted by @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt . Excellent job, fellas! All wines tasted blind as usual.

I can probably count on one hand how many Sangiovese type wines I've had, so this was nice to try. This seems to be hitting a peak drinking window that will be open for a while. Lots of leather and charred black cherries. — 8 years ago

with Colby and Weston

Shay A

9.1

Another Weekly Wine Committee, this time hosted by @Weston Eidson and @Benjamin Keator ! They knocked it out of the park with French wines! As always, all wines are tasted blind.

Another Bordeaux wine that exhibited classic notes, but this one was juicer than the first. Cranberries, plums and herbs. — 8 years ago

with Colby, Benjamin and 2 others

Shay A

9.3

A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!

I've been fortunate to have this before, but this time, I was able to enjoy it more. Lots of walnut and nutmeg on the nose. Great Coombsville-esque body to it that balance dark fruits and tart notes. A phenomenal '07 that doesn't lean towards herb and earthy notes but balances fruit nicely. Thanks Weston! — 8 years ago

with Mark and Weston

Alyse Villarreal

9.9

Very sweet. Very good. Paired with strawberry cupcake with chocolate gamache icing. Also paired with mango fire white cheddar cheese. — 8 years ago

with Sal

Ashley Stolba

9.0

Mixed reviews. I am undecided. Need @Weston, G. here to help! — 10 years ago

with Jack

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group meet up. No true theme this month. Some wines tasted blind.

This was not tasted blind by me. On the nose, Red clay, underripe red and black fruit. Dusty and young...earthy. Ripe and lush on the palate...candied cherry, saddle leather and herbal spice. Drinking well, but plenty of time ahead and not yet at peak. Thanks @Weston Eidson — 6 years ago

with Bill, Steve and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

Heck of a 3rd Friday to kick off the holidays!

Incredible nose. Potpourri, milk chocolate, almost like a coconut/American oak like nose but it reigns it in just before it becomes full blown. Blueberry and toasted blackberries on the palate...a sweetened charcoal/liqueur finish. So silky. Wonderful bottle from @Weston Eidson — 7 years ago

with David, Weston and 2 others

Mark Flesher

9.5

Glad I have two more of these, because this one is SINGING tonight. I am almost 100% certain that I had the chance to taste this one not too long ago and thought it was kind of in a strange place. This one is clearly in the start of the drink window tonight! Blackberry, black licorice, hint of sweeter cocoa on the middle. Dusty tannin on the finish with Rutherford dust. 45 to 60 second finish. Really nice. This one is a baby as well with all the youthful and punchy fruit. I see some more integration out of this one. Drink over the next 7 years, maybe 10. Beautiful wine @Weston Eidson — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Weston hosted Friday group today and was it definitely a can’t miss tasting. Wow! Absolutely knocked it out of the park with heavy hitter after heavy hitter. Similar to Wednesday group, all wines are tasted blind.

I’ve been fortunate to have the ‘12, ‘13 and ‘14 all within two weeks. While I think the ‘12 has been my favorite, this was close. Not sure of the merlot usage here, but it was fairly soft and plush. Ripe blueberries and blackberries but also some tobacco and grilled meats. A few people wondered if this wine could be a Cali Syrah (in comparison to the last 2). — 7 years ago

with Weston

Shay A

9.2

During the month of January, the Wednesday Wine Committee has a unique format...the sparkler, whites and dessert wines can be from any vintage and any location, but the reds must be from the 2007 vintage. It was my first time providing a wine for a lunch, so I was excited to see how it showed. As always, all wines were served blind.

Lovely Sauternes provided by @Weston Eidson . Pineapple and honey dominated on both the nose and palate. Long ways to go. Powerful. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Another weekly wine Committee lunch that I was able to attend, hosted by @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt . Excellent job, fellas! All wines tasted blind as usual.

Wow! Not only was this my red of the day, it was the wine of the day. The nose on this, whether it was where it was placed in the line up or just the American Oak, was profound. A wine that I would be ok only smelling. Coconut and dill on the nose. Very silky textured on the palate, with Mexican vanilla and a kick of blackberries. Fantastic! — 8 years ago

with Colby and Weston

Shay A

9.2

Another Weekly Wine Committee, this time hosted by @Weston Eidson and @Benjamin Keator ! They knocked it out of the park with French wines! As always, all wines are tasted blind.

I've had a grand total of three hermitage Blancs ever and they've all been within the last 5 days. What a treat. The other two showed a waxiness trait to them but both were '09s, so this younger one had me thinking possibly NZ SauvBlanc. Had some cat piss aromatics that seem to trend with NZ SauvBlancs. — 8 years ago

with Colby, Benjamin and 2 others

Shay A

9.4

A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!

Bill was on point tonight wanting to prove to Weston that petite sirah can be delicious, but took a break from PS to bust this out. 😱 WOW! Absolutely superb. Toe to toe with the Peter Michael. Had more structure and complexity. The plum, tart fruit and earthy component to this for 16 yrs Old was so impressive. — 8 years ago

with Mark and Weston

Ignacio Sarmiento

8.9

Tapas Weston — 9 years ago

Sam Clark

9.4

I preferred this 2011 Norton over their 2010, dryer season for the grapes made it a really smooth wine. Really nice wine to go with a good meal. — 10 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Normally I post a glass with wine. With a wine bottle that still has wine. Nope. Not. Tonight. Not. This. One. #thisisNapaSB. Kickin' some ass tonight @Weston Eidson — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Monthly WTF wine group meet up.

Potpourri, fresh squeezed blackberries, currant, and candied teriyaki. Plush on the palate, with more acidity than ‘14. Structure here seems more beefed up. I waited an hour or so to try, and it was very soft. Full fruit spectrum (red, blue and black). Muddled mulberry with a flavor punch finish. Thanks for opening @Weston Eidson . — 7 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Harold Birnbaum

9.2

Weston 2/17/18. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.7

Weston hosted Friday group today and was it definitely a can’t miss tasting. Wow! Absolutely knocked it out of the park with heavy hitter after heavy hitter. Similar to Wednesday group, all wines are tasted blind.

My first Maybach. From the first time it was poured in my glass until the last taste, this was my favorite (though the ‘13 Macdonald tied it in the end). Sweet rhubarb pie on the nose, palate was very clean...not overdone. Red, blue and black fruits, nutmeg and red cinnamon. Insanely good. — 7 years ago

with Weston

Harold Birnbaum

9.6

Weston 12/23/17 and 12/27/17. Outstanding, minty, more structure and balance than many Knightsbridge wines. Dad and Jules loved it too. Good year? — 8 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Holy smokes! What a wine. Rich, endless levels of alternating dark and red fruit. Well structured to guide you to a perfect, lingering finish. And the lamb burger on a brioche bun with a salsa of beets oranges and onions marinated in lemon, honey and olive oil. And.....drum roll, authentic Lamb Weston Alexia sweet potato fries and a touch of chipotle mustard. Did I just die and went to heaven? — 8 years ago

with Janelle and Tammy

Shay A

9.2

July's monthly WTF group meet up. Blind tasting with a theme of French wines. Bravo to all those who joined...great wines!

Enjoyed tasting this alongside the Montrachet. Much more citrus and melon notes here. Aromatics were more fruit forward and the finish had more of a bite. Very nice, @Weston Eidson ! — 8 years ago

with Andrew, Jeff and 2 others

Shay A

9.1

Another Weekly Wine Committee, this time hosted by @Weston Eidson and @Benjamin Keator ! They knocked it out of the park with French wines! As always, all wines are tasted blind.

One of the very few wines I guessed correctly. Incredibly floral nose, hardly any acidity to the finish. — 8 years ago

with Colby, Benjamin and 2 others

Martin Mills

8.9

Not quite as fruit forward as some RRV Pinot but excellent value at $30. From Weston Rod LCBO — 8 years ago

Justin Mahoney

9.4

Fantastic super Tuscan in the beginning of its window. Grip and tannins are still there but very well integrated. Classic Italian nose and taste profile of dried herbs, leather, on a backbone of dense red and black fruit. Brings the funk, as it should, and a great find at the Weston rd Lcbo — 9 years ago

with Craig and Matt