Post House Road
Post House Road
Proprietary Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Lot to ingest on that label. Smells of weathered wood in the sun and sweat? Or maybe hot sandstone in the rain? Streak of smashed berries and cherries too. Flavor is pure Cab. Leather, wood, brooding fruit, tomato leaves, and cassis. This is lovely stuff. Makes the grade and then some. — 5 years ago
Luc Pirlet
Minervois Red Rhone Blend 2018
Food friendly. Middle of road flavor. Pleasant every day wine. Like a good French table house wine. — 6 years ago
Piña Cellars
Buckeye Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
On a road trip to Napa and stopped in San Francisco on our way. Nice Italian food to enjoy with this wine. Today was the Pina open house so I thought it was appropriate to enjoy one of their wines, even though we couldn’t be there. — 7 years ago
Daniel Barraud
La Verchère Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay 2005
Nothing better than a well aged Chardonnay and fatty, cold water fish. This bottle is our go to pairing for grilled steelhead trout.
Nose is evolving since my prior post, oxidized green apple peel and cold caramel.
Palate is lightly sweet lemon curd/custard, baked red apple, cooked lemon, warm granite dust and a zing of acidity on the close.
Our feline house managers pestered for comfortable portions on the trout, they are good boys and girls, generally, so we endulge.
Great night listening to Hugh Masekela and Mongo Santamaria on the HiFi, everything complimented!
One bottle left, then we move along to the next vintage. — 7 years ago
C R Cellars
Fortissimo Red Blend
Wow, old school perfection! California wine from a forgotten age. Pure Italian-American greatness. Reminds me of the wine my childhood landlord would make from the vines that grew behind our house just upstate from NYC. Dark fruits abundant, soft acidity and tanins, nice touch of oak, without obscuring the graps as so many California wineries are obsessed with doing for some reason these days. Found this at a random liquor store on a road trip, will seek it out now. Even better than the Cribari Chianti or Coppola Rosso, which were my previous favorite in this genre, the wonderfully underappreciated "backyard" wine... — 8 years ago
Two Hands
Coach House Block Seppeltsfield Road Greenock Shiraz 2006
Pretty damn good, got better and better — 8 years ago
Punt Road
Napoleone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
Light body, red fruit perfect for a sunny spring afternoon. Enjoying with the whole family at Ruma’s House — 4 years ago
Post House
Penny Black Red Blend 2015
Zwarte bessen, stevige body, klein zoetje in afdronk. Heerlijk met stoofvlees. — 5 years ago
Felton Road
Block 3 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
I might have mentioned this in a previous Felton Road post. If you haven’t tried this producer and you love White Burgundy, Burgundy & Ca Pinot, you owe to yourself to find a bottle(s). The fruit Nigel and his team produce is top shelf & some of the best acidity I’ve had. This is better than most more expensive CA Pinots & Burgundies I’ve had & their offering’s are in the $50-$65 range.
I love warm day & cool night Pinots. This is the climate of Central Otago. Their fruits are nicely ripe with acidity for days.
The mouthfeel is glorious, sexy and elegant. The blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries and strawberries really sing. This 16 is young & I’d hold it another 3-5 years for better things. Think it hits 95-96 at that point. This still shows some stronger spice & cinnamon stick at this age. Dark soils, underbrush, some savory meats, a dash of herbaceousness, tree bark dipped in sap, mixed mid fruit cola. clove, some vanillin with amazing, bright florals that are dark, fresh; red, blue, purple set in violets. Perfect acidity and an elegant, ruby, well balanced, smartly polished finish that sings on the palate for minutes.
Photos of; the view from their property in April 2017 which, is their fall, outside fermentation tank, my walking the property with owner Nigel Greening and my wife enjoying her walk around the property. — 6 years ago
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2001
So, if it’s my birthday celebration, there is a juicy ribeye & some old(er) Claret.
My only disappointment with this bottle is as good as it is, there are better things still down the road.
The nose reveals classic Claret. There are earthy, funky fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets.
The body is medium full with rounded, nicely resolved, tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance are really singing. It would be good to have another 2001 LMHB in ten years. While 2001 wasn’t a critically acclaimed vintage, I think LMHB over performed the vintage. As well, it followed a grand 2000 vintage which, handicapped it from the start. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries, bright cherries, rhubarb, figs, with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry top soil, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice with soft heat, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets. The acidity is excellent...like a gentle rain shower. The long finish is elegance defined, extremely well balanced ending in soft, round, dry, dusty tannins with beautiful spice.
Photos of; Chateau La Mission Haut Brion & estate vines, beautiful barrel room, pond & Roman columns and the back vow of the Chateau.
Please indulge me while I post some history on this grand producer. As much as I love the wine, I love the history & people that do the hard work to bring us such great wines.
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is not quite as old as Chateau Haut Brion. However, they are opposite side of the road neighbors. La Mission Haut Brion dates back to the late 16th century. The property came into being after it was purchased by Jean de Pontac in 1533. US winery history is a baby compared to France.
In 1607, the estate changed hands. It was inherited by Ms. Olive de Lestonnac. What an inheritance!
In 1815, something rare happened. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion became the property of an American owner, the Chiapelle family. At the time, the family was already involved in the Bordeaux wine trade. In fact, they knew about the business as they had managed a myriad of different estates including Chateau Cos d’ Estournel.
La Mission Haut Brion continued to change hands until it was finally sold to another American family, the Woltner’s. Frederic Woltner purchased La Mission Haut Brion in 1919. The also became owners on Howell Mountain.
It changed hands one final time in 1983 when it was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon, the owner of neighboring, Chateau Haut Brion. They renovated the entire property, starting with replanting the vineyards which, was completed in 1987.
The 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is planted to; 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.8% Merlot and 10.4% Cabernet Franc. 3.5 hectares of vines are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux.
To produce the red wine of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, the wine is vinified in large, 180 hectoliter, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new, French oak for an average of 22 months. The annual production of La Mission Haut Brion averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year. — 6 years ago
Canyon Road
California Pinot Noir
Smooth, light bodied, dark fruit Pinot Noir at author’s reception at the Hampshire House in Boston — 8 years ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend
Boom💥...there it is! Might as well be my 3,500 post. Not many better ways to kick off a Friday night. Cheers! 🥂
Love the leaner, ripe & slightly sour fruits of, strawberries, cherries, white peach, tangerine, watermelon near the rhine, black cherries, powdery razor sharp chalkiness, gritty grey volcanic minerals, sea shell/spray, baguette crust, pink rose petals, beautiful acidity and rich, round reductive, long beautiful finish.
Photos of, the House of Billecart, cellar with the bottles A-framed racked and ready to be riddled, cellar-hand crushing grapes and the best time to be in wine country, harvest. — 8 years ago
Post House
Black Mail Merlot 2019
Goes well with cheese. — 4 years ago
Post House
Bluest Black Red Blend 2018
Wylds Cafe — 5 years ago
Château Verdignan
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
I have mentally thought about doing this post for quite awhile. Opening this 2003 Verdignan brought on the appropriate moment. I am a believer in paying respects and it’s the basis of this post.
We learn to drink certain wines from the regions we live near or from the people we learn & enjoy wine with as we walk the road to understanding what we really enjoy. I started as an exclusive CA Chardonnay drinker for many years before moving on to nearly every varietal and regions offer. Next was Napa Cabernets which, led me to my true love, red Bordeaux. It was a bit of curve getting there but, once I had them with proper aging, I was hooked for life.
While my curiosity got me to Bordeaux wines, there one person that helped shape my Bordeaux palate and I agreed with more than anyone else’s, including every well known wine critics at that time and even today after spending 10 weeks learning from several Master Sommeliers on my way to passing the Court of Master Sommeliers exam and becoming a Sommelier myself. This person is Clyde Beffa Jr., Owner of K&L Wine Merchants.
Clyde has been traveling to Bordeaux for over 40 years and sometimes multiple times in a year. His palate and experience are second to none. Especially, when it comes to Bordeaux.
I owe him a lot. He taught me the importance of letting good Bordeaux’s age 20 years plus. What were the jewel value producers. Brought in Bordeaux wines direct from the Chateaus that had 10 years of bottle age and older. Bordeaux’s that critics did not like young but, he knew something special had taken place over time as he was tasting them much later in their lives and often. I bought and drank a lot of these wines. They also kept temptation at bay in me reaching for my too young and more expensive wines.
He is very kind and kind enough to allow me to travel with him & key staffers to the 2014 En Premier to taste what was a very difficult 2013 Bordeaux vintage. You can go to En Premier and then there is going with Clyde. You have all the key appointments, Chateau accommodations/dinners and taste somewhere around 1500 plus wines in 6 days. He is loved by the Bordelais and for good reason.
So, I dedicate this post to him. He is the one who told me to buy this little known 2003 Verdignan at the same “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting” I mentioned in my Chateau de Candale post on Friday. As of Friday, that was the wine of the tasting. Well…until I coravined this slowly over the weekend. This 2003 was under $25 and it is one of the very best Bordeaux’s I had in some time. As well, perhaps the best QPR in my over 20 years collecting wine. Clyde knew that day just how good it would become. He said, forget about this for 20 years. So, I am a little early here.
Clyde has recommended more great Bordeaux’s to me that most people don’t hear about, let alone try. He told me to buy the poorly reviewed 91 Pichon Lalande when he brought more into the store seven years ago Chateau direct. It was a very difficult vintage with spring frost, hail storm and a difficult growing season. He described as “Heaven in a Bottle” and It most certainly the case. To this day, Pichon Lalande is my favorite steak wine and the 91 is still my favorite vintage. I purchased a 3L from him recently that he brought in direct from the Chateau for my 60th next year. Can’t wait to open that with our good friends and celebrate.
As for the Verignan, the nose reveals; dark brooding & slightly bake fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, some poached strawberries & haunting blue fruits. Black tea, forest floor with leaves, anise, limestone, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, beautiful, mid intensity dark spice, dry tobacco, graphite, mixed dark berry cola, understated, well layered baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dry herbs, mint with candied; dark, red, blue and purple florals.
The body is full, rich, lush, satiny with plenty of well rounded, soften tannins. The tension, structure, length and balance are excellent and will continue to improve. This will last another 15 years and beyond with proper storage. This is a very classic Bordeaux well balance in fruit and earth. It is sheer elegance on the palate. It’s why I love Bordeaux more than Napa and I love Napa Valley Cabernet. Dark brooding & slightly bake, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, boysenberries, some poached strawberries & haunting blue fruits. Black tea, dark chocolate bar, touch of mocha powder, light caramel notes, Expresso notes, forest floor with leaves, anise, limestone, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, beautiful, mid intensity dark Asian & Indian spices with just right amount of palate heat, dry tobacco, graphite, dry twigs with a little sap, mixed dark berry cola, understated, well layered baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dry herbs/sage, mint with candied; dark, red, blue and purple florals. The acidity is round and nearly perfect. The long finish is, classic, elegant, well balance fruit and earthy Bordeaux that persists softly on the palate for minutes with just the right amount of spice.
This is a heady wine that you really think about as you slowly sip and it affects your whole body. Can’t wait to have another in five years.
Photos of; Chateau Vergignan in Medoc near St. Estephe, their vineyard that reveals where Bordeaux gets its earthiness, Owner Jean Miaihle who acquired the property in 1972 and a wide shot of their vines. — 6 years ago
Macallan Distillery
25 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Single Malt Scotch
A Great night to say the least:
Magnum of Gargiulo money ranch road,
2000 Bryant, 25 year Macalllan. Totally forgot to post this pick from a few weeks back!
The Bryant drank as good as any French Bordeaux that I’ve ever had. The money ranch toad was mediocre in comparison and the 25 year Macallan was 2nd only to the amazing company we had in our house that night!!
Great times to say the least!
— 8 years ago
Deborah M
Late post. 2016 Westside Road Neighbors Williams Selyem. We decanted this one and we were rewarded. Winemaker notes best describe this wine - The nose starts out with red cherry, wild berries, and plum, and brightens up with notes of juniper berry, citrus, and redwood shavings. A brooding element lurks in the background and evokes thoughts of Asian spices. With time in the glass, the wine opens up with aromas of flowers and lavender. I agree 💯. — 3 years ago