Black currant, blackberry, and cherry, complemented by notes of chocolate, tobacco, spicy oak, and hints of lavender and graphite. On the palate, it is full-bodied and rich. Espresso, and spices. Great tannins and a long, persistent finish. — 8 months ago
Cena con winegeeks carloa gaytan — a year ago
This is a magnum of Jim Clendenen’s 2001 Harmony estate-bottled Chardonnay, “Nuits-Blanches Au Bouge” from the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County. Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat vineyards. If you aren’t familiar with Jim or his Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family labels, you are in for a treat. — 6 years ago
Wow! Singing. Menthol, berries, hint of cream, herbs, cassis. I am influenced by drinking with the guy who made this wine while listening to him play songs from the album! Still excellent for an almost 20 year old wine. — 7 years ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2015 “Soul of a Lion” pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of cassis, plum, purple flowers, Fresno chili, tobacco, leather, vanilla and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and silky. A fairly massive wine but there’s plenty of character to keep it unique and interesting. Drink now through 2035+ — 2 months ago
Hibiki Highball from the master at the Apollo. Been two years since I’ve been here but it felt like yesterday. Literally nothing has changed. Must stop if you are in Tokyo. Feel free to go to the bar Milo next door and have a drink of the “Mr Norm” bottle that I had to buy in order to get a drink. Keep in mind all of these places max out at 8 people. I kinda stressed them out coming in with eight but played the “remember me” card and picture from my iPhone ;) — 10 months ago
Drinking beautifully with a Northern appellation feel to it, more Brune and schistous to me. Would love to know all the lieu dits that contribute and their proportion in the final blend. Its darken fruit profile, meaty/smokey and forest notes make the argument that it’s of northern origin. Its opening up for now there’s a rich stream of dark black fruits reminiscent of Black raspberry liquor, soaked plums, almost prune, and overripe black berry/cherry. There’s still freshness to the fruit however, nothing ox’d or decaying. Singed cedar, leather, ash, roasted meat and animal come next, followed by the garrigue and bacon fat. Threads of eastern spices and of course pepper. It elusive now, the aromas coming and going. Palate has some lovely richness and bones to accompany it well, never pushy, always with restraint and nerve. Reminds me of Barolo. Great “basic” cuvée for Rostaing this vintage. Day 2 this really got going, much more harmony and focus on the nose. Loads of bitter root and pastille notes developing among its dark content. Very delicious — 6 years ago
Costco, better than expected. — 6 months ago
Opaque purple in color, Welch's grape juice, cedar, and anise on the nose. Palate is evolved and settled with muddled blue and blackberry. Definitely nods to Porto with a tawny hint. A bit hot on the alcohol (guessing 14.8 ABV). Wine is dry, medium minus acidity. Full bodied. A bit of bitterness keeps this from presenting a rounded mouth feel. Tannins non existent at this point. Good.
92 points — 8 months ago
Good price but nothing special — 6 years ago
Light, nice sipping wine — 6 years ago
Dean Rogers
Excellent red blend! very tasty with Andrea and anniversary dinner!! — a month ago