Mad Violets

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 days 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.

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2001

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. — 10 days ago

Jan, Zach and 3 others liked this

Domaine Auguste Clape

Renaissance Cornas Syrah 2010

Youthful that is showing well with dark cherry, berry fruit, graphite, smoke. lots of spice, licorice, violets & tobacco — 4 months ago

Juan, Jonathan and 9 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Meaty and intense. Lush with violets, a deep purity and smoothly intense. Really great stuff. A little more powerful than the 82 alongside but a whisper less refined — 20 days ago

Walker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Walker and David
Ceccherini, Tom and 12 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Chaillot Cornas Syrah

A fantastic nose. So multi dimensional. Gamey, meaty, violets, iron, herbs. Intense, defined. Long. Fantastic. — 25 days ago

David Schachter
with David
Shay, Jay and 6 others liked this

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 1999

Deep and intense. Violets and saddle leather. Delicious and profound. Amazing. — 2 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Juan, Jay and 8 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2011

Always a treat with its perfumed aromatics, balanced dark cherry, berry fruits, spice, mineral, graphite, iron, olive, pepper & violets — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister, Tom and 8 others liked this

Jones Family Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.7

I am re-coravining this 07. The 2007 vintage is generally compared to 97. I would say 07 is slightly better than 97.

I am honest, sometimes to a fault. This is absolutely the most underrated Cabernet producer in Napa Valley, bar none. A TRB made wine since 97.

The nose reveals ripe & lush; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries, just a whiff of boysenberries with strawberries & creamy raspberries on the edges of the glass. Melted dark chocolate to frosting, plum pudding, mocha powder, salted caramel notes, cinnamon, clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, touch of butterscotch, understated herb blend, some grey clay, dry top soil, light graphite, very used leather, light fresh tobacco, undertones of anise to black licorice, withering-candied; dark, red flowers-roses with candied violets.

The palate is heavily magical. The tannins round, velvety & still meaty. Ruby & lush nicely evolved fruits that are; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries hints of boysenberries, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate extract & hovering, creamy raspberries. Melted dark chocolate to frosting, plum pudding, mocha powder, salted caramel notes, tarriness, dark roasted expresso, anise to black licorice, cinnamon stick, clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, dark spice w/ some palate heat, touch of toffee w/ nuts, understated fresh herb blend, lightly grilled meats, some grey clay/volcanics, dark, rich, sweet earth, dry top soil, nice graphite tones, very used leather, fresh tobacco, undertones of anise to black licorice, withering-candied; dark, red flowers-roses with candied violets, excellent round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted, structured, tensioned, elegant finish that glides from beautiful fruits to spice & gentle earth and last nearly two-minutes. Glorious & stunning the character & depth of this wine!

Jones Family wines only shine this bright with 15 years plus in bottle.

This one has another 3-5 yrs before it starts its slow decent.
— 3 days ago

Scott@Mister, Andrew and 11 others liked this
Jay Kline

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I guess I need a little more experience with Jones Family. I’ve always scratched my head when it came to Seavey and Paradigm because it think both those wines are hugely underrated.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Buy them all the time already properly aged on the secondary markets for far less than winery prices.

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016

Legit delicious and one of the best I’ve had in a while. Mellow and lush, great rounded acids and softened tannins. Good tar, cocoa powder, prunes, stewed mushroom, soil, dried roses and violets, touch of vanilla. Decanted 4 hours before opening. Probably from Flatiron Wines? Happy Valentine’s Day. 02/14/2025 — 3 months ago

Austin, Ray and 10 others liked this

Raul Pérez

Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencía

Suggested at Grand Cata on 11/29/2024 when I asked for Ribera sacra bzw. Galicia. $30. L noted Chambers had shipped same wine! Likely natural then, though lacking that liveliness. Drank 11/30/2024. Ash, bubble gum on nose. Puckett tannins will likely settle down with time and warmth. Black fruit, violets, gravel/slate. Long strong finish lingers. — 5 months ago