Black Box Wines

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Bought at the winery after tasting in 1999, my first pilgrimage to Coonawarra. Opened very stinky but blew off with air over 30 mins to beautiful fragrant nose and that sweet soft tannin of an aged Coonawarra Cabernet. Drank gloriously over the next two hours. Still full of life at 29 years old. — 12 days ago

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), Merlot (47%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Dark ruby color with a few purple highlights. Savory aromas of burnt wood, asphalt, black fruit, smoky oak and purple flowers. Flavors of cooked blue and black berries, espresso, mushrooms, cassis and oolong tea. Long and smoky finish. Nicely balanced and extremely concentrated. Smooth tannins and quite the powerhouse. Heading past its prime but still extremely drinkable. Thank you for sharing this incredible wine, Kasey and Pete. — 9 days ago

Dave, Tom and 5 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

I don‘t know. This has so much oak it overpowers everything. Might need another 10 years to be approachable. Cigar box, black berries. Deep, big and profound. I am not sure I would spend 70$ on this. It needs much much more time. Probably needs to be open for 2 days. Out of the machine at the Wine House in LA. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Zach and 5 others liked this
Vin d’Ottawa

Vin d’Ottawa

We have a 2007 Magnum and plan on holding for a few more years. Well-aged Rioja is a treasure

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

2 hour decant. A marvelous medium garnet color (decent fine sediment). On the nose: dark berries, cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, pencil shavings, chocolate, and cigar box. Taste: layered, balanced, still young wine with dark cherry/plum, cedar, dark chocolate, charcoal, and a lingering tobacco/leather finish. YUM! No hurry, a long distance Las Cases. — 9 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Andrew, Iwan and 16 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

This was drinking beautifully showing rich red & black fruits, earth, cedar, leather, spice & tobacco — 20 days ago

Tom, Somm and 21 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Could do with more time in the bottle but it's a special occasion afterall. Noses rose petals, vanilla, leather, capsicum and tobacco, black fruits and pencil shavings....and date I say onions! Huge body. Palate is savoury yet so layered and structured. Dark chocolates galore with a generous scatter of sea salt. Harmonious! Precise! — 23 days ago

Tom, Jay and 3 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Youthful, structured with mostly black fruits, cassis, sweet spice, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco — 9 days ago

Andrew, Jan and 16 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

Black fruits, cedar, earth, leather, graphite & tobacco — 13 hours ago

Andrew and Ted liked this

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — 10 days ago

Andrew, Douglas and 6 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

This wine is a well-balanced Napa Valley red showing both power and elegance. It offers aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco, with flavors of black cherry, cocoa, and spice on a silky, structured palate. Love it. — a month ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael