Velvet Monster

Charles Smith

The Velvet Devil Washington State Merlot 2014

k
8.9

Balanced with front fruit and decent body. No overpowering aspects. — a month ago

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Broad and bold, with red berries and red currant, medium acidity, velvet tannins, medium plus alcohol, long finish. Like a ballerina draped in silk. — 5 months ago

Peter, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Not fair to compare different years… 🧐 Premier Crus are excellent in their own way
Ericsson

Ericsson

Point taken…

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Age 30 has 1995 Latour is in an amazing place, finally, fully open and giving wafting unmistakable Pauillac perfume, integrated and seamless and liquid velvet in the mouth with melting tannins and an explosively long finale. My fav first growth 💯 — 9 months ago

Jay, Jan and 11 others liked this

Pétrus

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1975

gorgeous plum and violet. Black cherry and gorgeous velvet texture. Really classy and rounded and long — 3 months ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Tom, Jay and 7 others liked this

Big Red Monster

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Very smooth and rich! — 5 months ago

Eric Kleeman
with Eric

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Beautiful, intensely perfumed nose. Ripe cherries, wildflowers, orange zest, beautifully broad and full-bodied. Ripe, full-bodied, powerful, yet elegant. A wine that excels in its details. An iron fist in a velvet glove. — 5 months ago

Eric, Jan and 3 others liked this

Château Pavie

Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Massive monster of a wine that will obviously polarise. The type of wine that you drink while being fed grapes and fanned with a giant palm leaf. Opulent and luxurious with blackberry, brambles and tar. Its going to be too much for a lot of people but if you like your wines full of flavour then this is for you! — 2 years ago

Ted, Scott@Mister and 10 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Special Selection is Caymus’ flagship bottling, the only wine to twice earn Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year.” The 2013 vintage comes from a benchmark Napa year—warm, consistent, and producing deeply concentrated fruit. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor sites, this wine showcases the Caymus hallmark: bold, plush, and fruit-driven Napa opulence.

Aromas & Flavors
Opulent blackberries, cassis, and baked blueberries, wrapped in layers of cocoa, espresso, and toasted vanilla. Secondary notes of licorice, sweet tobacco, and graphite add depth. With time in the glass, hints of cedar and leather start to show, signaling the early stages of graceful evolution.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, almost velvet-like, with powerful yet polished tannins. The 2013 vintage delivers intensity and weight, but with balance—long, lingering finish loaded with ripe dark fruit and spice.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous cluster selection, long maceration for depth, and extended aging in new French oak barrels (18+ months). Chuck Wagner’s hallmark style: unapologetically ripe fruit, creamy oak integration, and a seamless, approachable structure even in youth.

Food Pairing
A natural match for grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or herb-crusted lamb. For a more indulgent pairing, try it with aged Gouda or truffle-infused dishes.

Verdict
A monumental vintage of Caymus Special Selection—ripe, hedonistic, and still showing youthful vigor more than a decade later. Built for aging, yet already a crowd-pleaser. A benchmark expression of Napa Cabernet’s luxurious side.

Personal Pick Highlight
2013 stands out as one of Napa’s greatest modern vintages, and tasting it now is like catching Caymus in its prime sweet spot: power meeting polish. Cheers!
— 3 months ago

Ted liked this

Hartford Court

Velvet Sisters Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2022

Hartford never ever disappoints. Open one up. They’re delicious. — 9 months ago

Herman Story

Nuts & Bolts California Syrah 2014

2014 Vintage. Was a bit funky on opening but opens and lost that funk with air. Massive Syrah fruit and velvet mouthfeel. Great job Russell! — 10 months ago

Shay, Jan and 1 other liked this