Modern Craft
Château Lilian Ladouys
Saint Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
Drinking window now in play. Tight as a drum on opening....strongly suggest a two to three hour decant. Held firm twenty-four hours later. It’s the kind of modern Bordeaux that a Sonoma red fan could appreciate. — 4 years ago
Bodegas y Viñedos Alion
Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo 2005
🏅 Rating 92+/100 (4,25⭐)
Tobacco leaf. Full of red and some black berries. Tanins are ripe, granular. Oaky. Midpalate fruit.
Powerful 100% Tempranilio. Alion is owned by Alvarez family. Just 12km away from Vega Sicilia, which belongs to the same family.
Top quality wine that can compete with Valbuena 5°, but made in a slightly more modern style.
That's not the first time I open this vintage of Alion. Now it feels more tight. Needs more bottle aging. I strongly recommend some aeration before serving this wine. Maybe leave it for a good couple of hours in wide decanter.
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Instagram: @win_talks_club — 6 years ago
Cheryl Indelicato
Hand Craft Artisan Collection Pinot Grigio
A nice light flavor — 8 years ago
La Rioja Alta
Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2007
This 2007 Rioja Alta is a blast. I have to admit that the nose was not very enticing. Nice, but nothing to write home about. But then, at the palate, it was a feast. Fresh herbs, with a black fruit, silky aftertaste. Rioja Alta’s magic craft at its finest. Tremendous value for money. — 8 years ago
Château Léoville Barton
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
There are a number of things I can say about Leoville Barton. For me, it is a storied property and experience.
To this point, I have had quite a few 2000 Bordeaux’s, none of them ready as this one. Given what I know about Anthony & his legacy, most of his good vintages were made for your children. So, color me surprised.
While this 2000 is drinking well, it is far from its precipice. There is another 20 yrs plus of road here.
Sofia and I have had the pleasure of dining at the same table with Anthony Barton and his wife in the early teens of 2000. He was a salt of the earth gentleman. His wife, lovely. At dinner that night, he told us a story I will not forget. A story prompted by a question from my wife. He and his wife drove from France to Switzerland. They were stopped at the border and asked to get out of the car as they had a case of wine with them. At that time and maybe still now, you can’t take wine over the border into Switzerland. The border guard called the powers to be and recanted the story of them trying to bring wine into Switzerland. He told them their name. The person on the other end of the phone said, who? They said, Anthony Barton. The reply, was let him through. That’s respect!!!
His daughter Lilian has taken the helm. She is also salt of the earth and a great Bordeaux Ambassador. May Anthony RIP.
This 2000 is classic Bordeaux in every way.
The nose shows steeped & candied fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, purple & blue fruit hues (classic Barton). Graphite, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dark Asian spices, dry herbs, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and violets.
The palate shows, M+ rounded, fine grain tannins. The nose mirrors the palate in many ways. Steeped, candied, ripe, juicy fruits that are; brambly blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, purple & blue fruit hues. Leoville Barton shows purple & blue fruits more than most other left bank producers. Graphite, dry tobacco, cedar, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dry top soils, saline, caramel, mocha powder, German chocolate cake, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark Asian spices w/ some heat, dry herbs, touch of black pepper, grilled meats, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, black tarriness, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and framed in liquid violets, acidity is grand, well balanced/structured, highly toned, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and settles on earth & dark spice.
Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed over nearly three hours.
Appreciated the 12.5% ABV. Many would say that is not possible in the modern wine era. Anthony says otherwise w/ his 2000.
95-96. — a day ago
Shacksbury
Arlo Craft Cider
Yum yum gimme some. A perfectly crisp and slightly funky cider. You bet yer sweet tuchas I’d buy it again. — 6 years ago
Craft wine Co.
Minimus RedWhitePink Willamette Valley Rosé Blend
This is amazing. Unlike any sort of Rose I’ve seen. Not dry. Rich I color. — 7 years ago
Elio Altare
Cascina Nuova Cerretta Barolo Nebbiolo 2006
Shacksbury
The Basque Craft Cider
Wow. Really impressive go at Basque cider from Shacksbury, which has quickly become one of my favorite cider producers in the US. Bone dry, great acid, perfect amount of volatile vinegar-y funk, with a great savory side. Delicious essence of tart, slightly bitter apple. I believe this is actually done in collaboration with a Basque producer using local apple varieties. Definitely captures a very similar character to what I expect from Basque cider. Great stuff. — 9 years ago
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Something for my Wagyu Burger.
I do enjoy this producers style/craft. Also, enjoy the elegance of St. Julien. 2012 is a vintage Sofia & 1 worked harvest at Clerc Milon. So, the 2012 vintage will always be a special vintage for me, even if it was only one that was good to very good for the right terroirs and producers. Just wasn’t special like; 00, 05, 09, 10, 16 or 19 etc..
Having said all that, this Ducru is not the 2012 star of the region. It’s elegant but falls short on depth, character & umpf, which are things I have grown to expect and have experienced from this producer in many vintages.
The palate shows, soft, round & velvety M-M+ tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some of both plums, slightly baked strawberries & circling raspberries. Slightly dry tobacco w/ ash, soft leather, sandalwood, mid, dark, rounded spice, nutmeg, clove, some cinnamon & vanillin, dark most earth with clay & dry leaves, herbaceous notes, very soft & elegant graphite, a touch of of mid berry cola/licorice, dark withering flowers, red roses, nice acidity with nicely balance, good tension/structured, elegant finish that last nearly two minutes and long sets on rounded dark spice.
@EmiratesLoungeDubai — 8 months ago
Shacksbury
Limited Release Pét Nat Craft Cider
dry, funk, farm, creamy finish — 8 years ago
Cheryl Indelicato
Hand Craft Artisan Collection Pinot Noir
Loved this Pinot Noir. — 8 years ago
Qupé
A Modern Central Coast Red Blend 2014
A total steal at Albertsons right now. Only $13 but drinks like 2x the price — 9 years ago
Jay Kline
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine 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 notes of ripe and tart black fruits: black cherry, plum, some cocoa, dry leaf tobacco, vanilla and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. The alcohol is medium. This is tart and tasty; young and built for age.
Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend including Bordeaux varieties), Zinfandel (with a decent amount of Petite Sirah, Tempranillo or even Malbec from France, the US, Spain or Argentina. But I think the wood is playing a key role in the tannin here, meaning that I think it spends a lot of time on it. I don’t think it’s all American because it don’t get a bunch of coconut and dill…but this is probably a modern leaning Rioja. So that’s my call. This is Tempranillo from Spain, Rioja, Reserva level and younger, 2019. Boom. This is solid and reliable even though I don’t think it has the personality of Heredia or Pescina. Drink now through 2049. — 2 days ago