The Brewery

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Opened sometime prior to service. The 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with black currants, plum, pipe tobacco, purple flowers, smoke 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 long. Tasty and I expect it to be even more interesting down the road. Drink now through 2048. — 7 days ago

Vanessa, Zach and 11 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2023

Medium deep ruby with a quite thin bright ruby violet rim. This is quite closed on the nose at first with bright cherry fruit , red plum , blueberry, blackberry , some floral hints and underneath a touch of slate . On the palate this is quite focused and lean , lovely red fruits , hint of spiciness and red cherry floral hints . Really fresh , vital acidity , with fine but very noticeable tannins and a very long focused red cherry , mineral tinged finish . Needs time , but is very promising, great freshness. Probably not at the level of the 2021 , tasted previously , but it’s close . Leave another 5-10 years and will show well a further 10. — 18 hours ago

Joe, ESF and 3 others liked this

d'Arenberg

The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019

vintage 2019 | Still too young, quite a blockbuster but also very lush, smoked meat in smell, brushwood, good balance, Dead Arm seldom dissapoints — 18 days ago

Peter, Dave and 6 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Just peaking in my estimation. May sill have a couple or three years before its decline starts. Opened and sat in the bottle for 2 hours. Poured a glass which sat another hour. Bold forward fruits. Blackberry, Plums, Black Cherry, hints of spice herbs that quickly fade into a smooth, luxurious taste of velvety tannins. Backend is just as the Front, Luxurious Bold Fruit but just a touch of old earth, lite tobacco and chocolate/cherry. — 13 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Tom and 7 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Sounds wonderful!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

Nice review, got a few bottles. Cheers!

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2001

Strange….
Evolved bouquet, plummy, balsamic notes, mocha, touch of sweetness, dark fruit, low acidity. Made me think 07 chateauneuf.
Although this was certainly enjoyable and intriguing, I couldn’t get past the impression that this was not a representative bottle.
— 24 days ago

Tom, Tom and 2 others liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2015

Fill was 3cm below the cork and there were signs of seepage, so I assume this was better a few years ago, — a month ago

Jan, Tom and 2 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 1995

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min before and during dinner. The 1995 pours a straw color with a gorgeous, persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with apples, ripe passion fruit, fresh brioche, lemon curd, toasted marshmallow and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A freaking delicious Champagne. Drink now through 2035. — 14 days ago

Jeroen, Matt and 11 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

So did this still taste fresh, curious? I know you liked it. Was just curious about its freshness.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I’ve had a lot of good, old Champagne. I love good, old Champagne. This was fresher than a good, old Champagne.

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Still holding back after 3 hrs in the decanter. The wine’s concentration and tannic structure promise a wonderful future. At the age of 20, this still feels primary and even hibernating… 😳
I’ll let my remaining bottles sleep for 3-5 years.
— 2 days ago

Paul, ESF and 6 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

Love this wine. Still young ish but very nice drinking window. Love the texture and tannin structure. Long finish. — 14 days ago

Ted, Ira and 5 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004

1/2 hour decant(decent fine sediment). A splendid still dark brooding garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: Intoxicating perfumed notes of dark red fruit, eucalyptus, forest floor, tobacco leaf, pencil shavings, smokey cedar. Taste: silky, savory, resolved wine with dried cherry/plum, dark chocolate, pepper, cedar, fig, and a graphite espresso long finish. YUM! — 12 hours ago

Tom, Paul and 5 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

Can’t recall one much better. The 07’s are peaking and this is no exception. — 9 hours ago

Dave liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

2021 vintage. Decanted and passed, with high air, between two decanters four times. If it were Caymus, woulda used a blender and forgotten. Last tasted 8.5.26 (9.6) Older (60's, 70's and early 80's) vintages more fruit driven which is quite the surprise in the current Napa Cab climate. Arguably the best GDL Private Reserve this estate has ever made. That goes back six decades. Supple, velveteen entry without the temptations of appearing over-extended. Structured mid-palate. A seeker's wandering, yet undeniably substantial finish. Taste it and you tell me. — a month ago

Alexandre, Barny and 17 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend

introed to me at cote 550 as the “monster” champagne they serve on JAL. I loved it though. holds it’s own against a steak — 20 days ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Intoxicating nose. Tres Bordeaux, complex, high bore, intriguing. On the palate, this is youthful, red fruited, tart and fresh.
Drinking lovely at the moment. Still has some future.
— 2 days ago

Paul, ESF and 4 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1989 pours a garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, leather, cocoa, some graphite, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine 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 fruit is generous and sort of the star of the show. There is no wonder why so many love Cos. Still years and years to go. Drink now with some air and through 2049+. — 19 days ago

Jeroen, Juan and 9 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1988

Apricot in color. Soft peach and obeyed notes. On the palate delicate orchard fruit, dried fruit, wet stone, soft fizz, a hit of salinity in the finish. Poised and delicious — 8 days ago

Bex Green
with Bex
Matt, Jay and 4 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

My last of three.

The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…

This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.

The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals
— 15 days ago

Jeroen, Rick and 8 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

F. Haven't had the 05 and it's a fave BDX producer. Priorities...

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

I am torn with the rating here. We had this after the Dom Rose and man did this need a lot of air. Very closed and tannin forward upon opening and decanting, then slowing opening up - an hour was not enough. It really came together after 3-4 hours and then had an amazing balance. Evolved from 9.0 to something 9.6 through the course of the evening. — 25 days ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Full body zinfandel. Fabulous for the stake or cold weather occasion. — 20 days ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1966

Appearance didn’t seem to be for a 60yo. No orange hue clear rim. The bright red fruit faded within a half hr and died within the hour. 11.5% was a nice surprise. — a month ago

Dave, Joel and 2 others liked this