Mad Violets

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

The sleeper vintage, one at this time I bet to be even more showy than the illustrious 2000. It’s simply just ready to go after a short decant wafting from the glass with layers of cassis, black truffle, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture and elegance, as Margaux should be—It’s liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins and a black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Superb showing tonight, with still a long life ahead. — 3 days ago

Dave, Bob and 5 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Chaillot Cornas Syrah 2014

Another great one showing finesse & elegance with black cherry, berry, spice, crushed rock, licorice, graphite & violets — 2 months ago

Ira, Joe and 13 others liked this

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2005

Very lush and punchy. Dark plum and cherry with a hefty dose of alcohol. Rounded and bright. Black cherry and violets. Good — 3 months ago

Jay, Shay and 7 others liked this

Château Phélan Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Somm David T
9.1

Beautiful noses that shows a dark core, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin and raspberries on the glass edges, dark, dryish earth, sandalwood, river stone, red flowers/roses, framed in bright, brilliant violets.

Beautiful fruit entry with dry, soft tannins. Dryish; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries and hints of raspberries. Dark, dry earth, sandalwood, river stone, dark spice, cedar, dry twigs, dry top soil, some dry herbs, dry clay, minimal baking spices, cigar with ash, dark flowers, red flowers/roses, framed in bright, brilliant violets. The acidity is gentle and nice. The finish is 19 elegant & pleasant, mid structured, smartly polished and lasts a full minute.

It has evolved some but still shows as primary. 91+ with some more appropriate cellaring.
— 4 months ago

Paul, Stefan and 11 others liked this
Stefan Dolhain

Stefan Dolhain Influencer Badge

And I thought I was going to learn something new. How disappointing 😂
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

That would be more than a little funky! Ouch.

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

Somm David T
9.4

Every time I have an older BV Tapestry, 15-25 yrs, I am always impressed with their better vintages. 2007 the rule rather than the exception. This when released in 2009-10 was between $35-$40 depending on when & where you purchased it. Having stated the above, these have proven to better than some to many Napa Cabernets costing $125 to $175 with the right long age. Bought in the last six months on the secondary market for $55 if my memory hasn’t failed me.

Tonight from a corvined bottle over the weekend still shows youthfulness but has excellent integration & evolution. Still has 12-15 years of good drinking ahead.

Ripe & lush, touch candied, dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries, black plum, baked strawberries & haunting blueberries/raspberries. Sweet tarriness, dry twig, powdery limestone, anise to some black licorice, soft, wet herbs, baking soda, dry top soil, nutmeg, soft clove, cinnamon, vanillin, dark spices, withering & candied flowers that are dark, red, blue framed in lavender & liquid violets.

The palate shows lush, ripe with M+ velvety rounded tannins. Lush dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries, black plum, baked strawberries & haunting blueberries/raspberries. Sweet tarriness, dry leather, used tobacco with ash, lead pencil shavings, dry twig, powdery limestone, anise to some black licorice, moist & dry herbs, baking soda, dry top soil, nutmeg, soft clove, cinnamon stick, vanillin, dark spices, withering & candied flowers that are dark, red, blue framed in lavender & liquid violets, pretty acidity and a finish that is; well balanced/structured/knitted, elegantly polished that last two-minutes and lands evenly on fruits, soft earth notes & deep spices as it sets.
— 12 days ago

Jay, leon and 15 others liked this

Jones Family Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Somm David T
9.6

Absolutely stunning. The most under known & under appreciated producer of Napa Cabernet…a TRB made wine 08 vintages forward, Heidi Barrett made this 97.

Dark core, anise, dark chocolate to pudding, caramel soft, black licorice, dark spice, fresh tobacco, dull, oak barrel shavings, dry herbs, baking spices, perfumed; dark, red, florals, violets, lavender, excellent round acidity and with a lush, well balanced, nicely tensioned/structured, elegant finish that’s last 90 seconds and lands squarely on full beauty.
— 2 months ago

Vanessa, Paul and 10 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2007

Slow ox for 3 hours. Deep ruby, still ruby edges. The pronounced nose was loaded with spices, olives, smoke, smoked meat, anise, clove, peppercorns, mostly tertiary dark red fruits, dried crushed violets. The palate was med+ bodied, medium grain tannin were a tad chewy and grainy, an intense but elegantly persistent palate. A long, spicy finish showed subtle fruit with the tannins showing a touch grainy/chewy and not as integrated here. Still a beauty, though not sure the tannin will resolve at this point. — 4 months ago

Jan, Zach and 4 others liked this

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah

Great vintage that is open showing black cherry, berry with crushed rock, mineral, spice box, licorice & violets — a month ago

Shay, Ira and 13 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2014

Medium ruby , quite wide medium ruby garnet rim . This is quite aromatic , with earthy sous bois , violets , black pepper , garrigue . On the palate quite elegant and dark fruited , bright acidity and quite strict tannins . Good cassis, blackberry , menthol touches , sous bois , grafite finish . This is ready and drinking well but will probably continue at this level for another 5-10 years or so. At Drouant Restaurant, Paris . — a month ago

Dave, Daron and 11 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Do you live in Paris?
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

No @Dave , just here for a couple of days …. So any suggestions of places to go are very welcome ! Was impressed by the wine lists at Drouant to be honest , lots of depth and prices that were really quite reasonable, and the food was pretty good too …
Dave

Dave

I'm not sure where you're staying, but i always hang out at Robert et Louise. It's got a nice vibe, great food, and a sensible wine list. Prices are pretty good, too. Just across the river from Notre Dame. https://www.robertetlouise.com/

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1970

From mag. Really fresh and tasty with rounded plummy fruit. Black cherry and violets. Plush and long — 4 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Jeroen, Ceccherini and 12 others liked this