Witching Hour

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2003

One hour decant with steak dinner. Had it with the 89 Haut Brion. Whilst this was good it was soundly beaten by the HB — 5 months ago

Tom and "Odedi" liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Oh yeah

Saxum Vineyards

Broken Stones Red Rhone Blend 2013

Day one too tight,
Day 2 with a 2-3 hour decant is just about right.
Saxum may not be Napa but they know what they are doing,
Best winery in Paso.
Parker Review

RP96 Incorporating more Petite Sirah than normal, and the first time there's been less than 50% Syrah, the 2013 Syrah Broken Stones is made from 48% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah, 17% Grenache, 6% Mourvedre the rest Tempranillo and Roussanne. Its deep, inky color is followed by a structured, seriously mineral-laced and full-bodied red that offers lots of fruit (cassis, black cherries and raspberries), smoked earth and chocolate aromas and flavors. The tannin is front and center, yet they're beautifully ripe and polished. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy through 2028
— 6 months ago

Somm, Andrew and 12 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

2 hour decant. Shredded cork. Filtered the wine.

Wow. This was just gorgeous and smooth. Tannins very well integrated and the fruit was excellent.

One of my favorite vintages with some age
— 8 months ago

Somm, Dave and 9 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Yeah, the 2006 is top of the pops currently. Miss it.

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment) A beautiful deep ruby red color. On the nose: Expressive nose captivates with dark red fruit, espresso, chocolate, floral, menthol, sweet tobacco. Taste: rich, round, intense wine with dark cherry/blackberry, minerals, cedar, tobacco, and a peppery-pencil lead-dried herb long dry finish. YUM! A brilliant wine just entering its drinking window with time to go. — 10 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Ron and 24 others liked this
Somm David T

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Great bottle. 🍷
Rob Brobst III

Rob Brobst III Influencer Badge

Wow @Tom Garland you@popped a good one!

Greer

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

From Magnum......4 hour decant......just spectacular! — 6 years ago

Warren Grossman
with Warren
David, Billy and 13 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1997

This 1997 wine is great. Sweet tannins very reserved. Layers of dark fruit. Really complex with long finish. Vanilla showed up after an hour. My only bottle but I’m buying a case for aging. I was really surprised how great this wine was. — 8 years ago

Ira, Shay and 7 others liked this

Witching Hour

Reserve California Deep Red Blend 2014

Lori K
9.4

Great dark fruit with pepper. Nice blend. Low acid, great overall dark red. — 9 years ago

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

It was more subdued than I expected. I tend to like the Merlot heavy Bordeaux but this one was still a bit muted. Perhaps it needs more time even though it’s well in its recommended range. Dark and heavy. Solid but left me underwhelmed. Decanted. Better after an hour. — 5 months ago

Robin, Tom and 18 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Last tasted 11.19.25 (9.6)…yes…two days ago! Someone’s gotta do the dirty work. Comparable experiences with the cork, fill and flavors from the 11.19.25 visit. Not decanted. Tasted one and two hours after opening. After one hour open (not decanted)...a 9.4. two hours...a 9.5. Perhaps decanted, surmise it could have touched 9.6 but we'll never know. This specimen slightly more advanced but still ridiculously phenomenal. 11.21.25. — 6 months ago

Tom, Somm and 15 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Opened but not decanted. Tasted after one hour open. More structure than the 1990 version tasted side-by-side but leaner with slight, vegetal tones, less fruit and better tannic structure than the 1990. Couldn't find this in my Delectable reviews but feel like I've tasted this once in the last 6 or so years. Apples (1990 version)/Oranges (1989). As with the 1990, the 1989 is in a good place for another few years in the 750ml format but if you want to truly visit a 35+ year old vintage at the height of its' powers, opt-in for a large format experience. 10.10.25. — 7 months ago

Jeroen, Dave and 24 others liked this
Shay A

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Opened this in 2019 for my wife’s 30th and I still think about that wine six years later. Stunning.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

Funk on the nose- old books. Needed more time than we had to decant. Barely opening at an hour. Lots of earth, tobacco, but thinner than expected — 4 years ago

Dalla Valle Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Just now in the zone. Still needed an hour + of air to fully open up. — 4 years ago

Paul, Shay and 24 others liked this
Norman

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No way. Just pulled one of these and need to post!
Norman

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Mine was a few years younger
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

They are one of my consistent faves. Year in and year out.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1949

A treat. Dark in color, slightly cloudy. A powerful nose with dark, very mouton fruit. Incredibly aromatic, blackcurrant, mint,graphite, dried herbs, eucalyptus. The palate is extraordinary. So dense and powerful for a wine of almost 70 years. Dark fruit with a savory undertow- leather, thyme, sour cherry, dark chocolate. Really precise flavors and long. After an hour or two in glass there’s notes of coconut and soft wood. Extraordinary. Clearly there’s a lot of age on this but the sheer quality makes for a really dynamic wine. An exceptional bottle, and a teal treat. — 8 years ago

Howard HorwitzTony GarciaDavid Schachter
with Howard, Tony and 1 other
Eric, Daniel and 25 others liked this
Eric

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Damn
Shay A

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What @Eric Shanks said 👆🏼
James Forsyth

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Goodness! What a treat.

Witching Hour

California Red Blend 2015

Wow. Very good blend. It doesn't say on the bottle but from the taste and location I'll guess Cabernet, Merlot, And Zin?

Heavy blueberry and cherry on the palate to begin...Very vanilla heavy on the nose. Great wine, and great for the price.
— 9 years ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

I purchased this wine for $60 as a Bordeaux future offering from MacArthur’s in DC, with the hope of opening it when my younger son—born in 1982—was old enough to share it. We finally did just that this Thanksgiving, celebrating both him and the bottle.
The fill was mid-shoulder, but the family was together and it felt like the right moment. I gave it about an hour in the decanter before dinner. Early on it showed blackberries, a touch of veg, lead pencil, cedar notes and a smooth elegant finish. As the evening went on it opened a bit more, gaining some depth.
A few hours later I revisited the small amount I’d saved and found it had dried out some—but that was expected for a 43-year-old First Growth. Ultimately, it was a wonderful experience and a memorable way to share both the wine and the moment with family.
— 6 months ago

Jay and Joel liked this
Jay Kline

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Fantastic and great story. Thanks for sharing!

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Opened and decanted for 2 hours before dinner and then really only opened up and truly hit expectations around the 3rd hour when paired with wagyu strip steaks.

This wine was savory tightly wound and tannic at first. Didn’t show much fruit until after the long decant and then it really changed.

With time, the fruits shown through with great complexity and great balance for the savory elements.
— 7 months ago

Bob, "Odedi" and 9 others liked this

Quilceda Creek

Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: mellow nose that hints at what's to come with black fruit liquor, pine needles, black olives, floral, smoke, potting soil. Taste: still big and bold with dark plum, dark currants, graphite, chocolate mocha, black pepper, and an earthy cherry infused medium plus finish. YUM!! more time to go, unfortunately my last bottle. — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Rob and 15 others liked this
Bob McDonald

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@Tom Garland One of my favourite US Cabernets. I see Robert Parker gave this wine 100 points. Lucky I have one left.
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Bob McDonald It's very good with time to go, though from my novice/rookie opinion, not a hundy good...that RP score was probably back in Jeb D. time and that guy never met a wine he didn't want to give a high score to. Cheers! Always enjoy reading your wine reviews.
Bob McDonald

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Thanks Tom.

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1992

1/2 hour decant (decent chunky/fine sediment). An amazing still dark garnet with decent bricking. On the nose: some dark cherry, old worn leather, sweet mint, smoked meat, potpourri. Taste: soft, creamy, elegant, silky sweet tannins caress the palate with a little dark cherry, damp earth, herbal, and a spiced red plum pencil lead dry finish. A nice example of aged Napa cab. YUM. — 4 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Eric and 19 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Cool pull!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Eric Thanks. Cheers!

Realm Cellars

The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

3 hour decant and this is so so good! — 8 years ago

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Drinking very well now. Still needs about an hour to open. Nice fruit. Elegant wine. Not as good as the 2004 which we had last night. — 8 years ago