Tobin Fine Wines

Tobin James

Fat Boy Paso Robles Zinfandel 2010

Rich plum and dark fruit, low acidity in the mid-palate but a smooth finish. — a month ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986

Poured into a decanter to remove sediment prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 1986 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, green bell pepper, tobacco, dried purple flowers, earth and fine cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (integrated) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A solid but somewhat demure showing, particularly in the midpalate. Drink now. — a month ago

Tom, Jan and 7 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind. Medium deep garnet ruby and medium garnet ruby rim . Quite cool and restrained , again lots of grafite and mineral , dark fruits . This is quite deep and dark spicy cassis , blackberry and sea spray , saline . Quite dense and robust on the palate again , lots of fine but ripe tannins. Very long , dense , cassis , cedar grafite saline finish . This is a complete and great example of 2005 , great balance and enormous length , the longest of all on show here. Drinkable now , but surely it’s best days are in the future , wait another 5 -10 years , will last well a further 20 - 25 if not more . The apex of 2005 ? For me this had to be the Latour , and an archetypal example of Latour no less . 1st place and the gold medal . — 2 months ago

Tom, Tom and 9 others liked this

Bollinger

La Grande Année Brut Champagne 2005

Quite pale lemon yellow colour . Still quite constant fine perlage . Some candied peel , light meaty notes , touch of nutty , yeasty richness . On the palate this is quite intense and fresh still , quite full bodied , with some citrus peel , roasted nuts . This is drinking perfectly now , quite rich but enough freshness to balance . Good length, balanced acidity , with a lightly toasty finish . At Noizé , London , 14th Jan, 2026 — 5 months ago

Tom, Shay and 6 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Looks like a nice trip?

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Presented to me, double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears, and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of ripe and desiccated, mostly dark fruits: cassis, black cherry, plum, mixed brambles, old leather, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (that is mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend, Tempranillo (or based blend) or Grenache-based blend from France, Spain or the United States. I feel like this leans more towards its fruit than its structure, even though it is a fairly well balanced wine in both regards. As a result, I am calling this a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain from a producer like Dunn, 2006. Shiiiiiit. To be honest, I’m not terribly surprised since this is Cos and from a warm vintage no less. Drinking well now and should through 2050+.
— 6 months ago

Pooneet, Jason and 23 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

From mag. Golden in color but still fresh. Intense and rounded. Peach and lemon and fine dazzling acidity. Gorgeously deep and balanced and long. Fantastic — 9 months ago

Bex GreenWalker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Bex, Walker and 1 other
Bob, Jan and 5 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a purple rim.

Beautiful nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and light green vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This iconic Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Santa Cruz Mountains in California is still very young, but already delicious, even by itself.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 30 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that paired beautifully with my Lamb chops.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in American oak barrels for 20 months.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$300.
— a day ago

Jay, Tom and 6 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2012

Lemon yellow. Fine bubbles. Elegant aroma with something in the deep area. Creamy. Aged flavor. Changed a lot. Dried brioche came out later and quite impressive. Louis Roederer Cristal 12 @9750, wine plus - vic, 260510 — 2 months ago

Ira liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996


Evolved & aromatic
Cedar wood, cigar box and a touch of cassis with some earthy, gravelly undertone.
Evolved and yet very pure. And very enticing.
Beautiful, simply beautiful on the palate. Firm yet polished and ultra fine tannins, juicy acidity, juice creamy black fruit on the mid palate. Elegant with nice depth and great length.
Beautiful juicy austerity. Classic benchmark left bank Bordeaux. And delish!!!
— 3 months ago

Tom liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2007

Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A striking dark ruby red color. On the nose: jumping from the glass are port drenched cherries, pencil shavings, tobacco, toffee, balsamic, and cinnamon. Taste: silky, balanced, still fresh wine with currants, little dried cherry, tobacco, earth, dried herbs, and a spicy saline graphite satisfying finish. YUM! In the home stretch, drink. — 6 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Ira and 16 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

2 hour decant. A marvelous medium garnet color (decent fine sediment). On the nose: dark berries, cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, pencil shavings, chocolate, and cigar box. Taste: layered, balanced, still young wine with dark cherry/plum, cedar, dark chocolate, charcoal, and a lingering tobacco/leather finish. YUM! No hurry, a long distance Las Cases. — 7 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Andrew, Iwan and 18 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

Medium lemon , hints of gold , quite a healthy colour with fine pretty persistent bubbles still . This quite intense with candied lemon peel , brioche , oyster shells , touch of porcini . On the palate this is intense ,with good volume and vibrant acidity. Buttered brioche , oyster shell , candied orange and lemon peel . Really quite lovely and intense , long and toasted brioche , chalky finish . This is at peak now , but no rush from here over the next 5 perhaps 10 years . — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 13 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2013

Well. These vintages are becoming rarer and rarer now that Beyoncé and Jay Z popularize it. Plum, graphite, tobacco on the nose. Poised and elegant on the palate, with silky fruit, fine grain tannins and a minera edge to it 👌🏻 — 9 months ago

Ira, Peter and 11 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Double decant and pour(some fine/cloudy sediment).  A striking still dark magenta color with bricking.   On the nose:  subtle perfumed notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, smoked meat, worn leather, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus.  Taste:  silky, balanced wine with some dried dark fruit, currants, earth, asian spice, dried herbs, and a graphite/dried cherry/coffee ground medium plus finish...lacks some depth and some still there sharp tannins gonna knock the score down.  — a month ago

Tom, Paul and 13 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Nice wine! I suppose you paired it with Papa John's pizza? 😉
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Dave Yep..classic Margaux pairing of Papa John Tuscan 6 cheese cheesesticks and their Philly cheesesteak pizza. Cheers!
Dave

Dave

Sounds divine

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2006

Medium lemon yellow fine , persistent perlage . Quite rich and ripe on the nose with some roasted nuts , lemon peel , some camomile , still quite restrained and a little closed. On the palate again quite full and rich , ripe lemon fruit , orange rind , roasted nuts and a creamy mouthfeel , certainly enough acidity to balance but on the richer side . Good length and lightly toasty finish . This is good now but will probably improve over the next few years and last well a further 5-10 . — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jeroen and 5 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2020

Yet another outstanding vintage (2020) of this consistently excellent Co-Op produced Barbaresco. Aromas of red fruit, dried rose petals and anise. Flavors of bright red cherry and raspberry fruit, mint, Asian spices, minerals and orange zest. Long and earthy/smoky finish. Fantastic balance, structure and depth. Fine grained tannins and a silky texture yet still firm and powerful. So delicious now, but built to age for at least another decade. The quality consistency of this wine vintage to vintage is incredible. Outstanding value! Thanks so much for opening this one, Keith S! Happy 60th Birthday, Karyn! — 3 months ago

Tom and Dave liked this
Dave

Dave

Yes!

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

This was a gift from a close friend who worked for Silver Oak as a garden manager until they eliminated that part of their business. Beautiful color in the glass. Ruby with a hint of rust on the edge. Aroma is complex with berries and flint. Also just a hint of pine needles. Christmas trees. Flavors are full and fine. This is BIG BOY wine. Delicious. — 6 months ago

Douglas, Tegan and 10 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Served blind, called ‘96 Paulliac! It’s a left bank classic in 1996, structured, earthy and peppery with an elegant palate and fine grained tannins. Went perfectly with aged Texas Antelope! — 7 months ago

Tom, Jan and 6 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

The most showy bottle I’ve had of this wine, 95 Mouton is in a terrific place, and an absolute classic, with Paulliac power and concentration, fine grained tannins and hugely persistent finish. Fantastic with the legendary EMP duck! — 8 months ago

Matt, Paul and 11 others liked this

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 2007

Quite light lemon yellow , quite difficult to judge the perlage in this glass but apparently fine and persistent, though on the palate the bubbles are quite discreet in nature . On the nose this is quite aromatic and rich with toasted lemon sherbet , sea shell , camomile and some buttered brioche . On the palate this also shows good richness and density , with more of the lemon peel , chalky , oyster shell character , with some buttered brioche notes on the finish . This is quite intense and long on the palate , though the perlage does subside quite a lot it is integrated. Fresh chalky acidity. Very much shows like a grand cru white Burgundy with bubbles. Still quite youthful and fresh but showing well , energetic but focused . From now and over the next 10 or so years . — 9 months ago

Tom, Jan and 6 others liked this