Shay A

9.3

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Birth year Sauternes. Classic profile. Honey roasted cashews and orange marmalade aromatics. Rich and sweet notes of apricot and peach on the palate. Powerful yet not overbearing. I called this mid ‘90s Rieussec. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

9.0

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Thankfully there was another bottle open because the bottle my glass was from was quite corked. There was more dense and sweet fruit here than I expected...herbal and leather notes are starting to emerge but the black cherry and plum is still center stage. There is also some vanilla pipe tobacco, potpourri and black pepper on the palate and finish. I called this left bank Bordeaux. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

8.8

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

These always fool me. Not because it’s atypical, but because nothing on this wine really stands out. Quite clear in the glass. Faint stone fruits, wet rock, slate, limestone with little acidity and hardly any finish. I called this Cali SB. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

9.2

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Here was the ringer out of the 4 reds and it was quite easy to recognize. Total wash of sweet and ripe fruits...baked mixed berry pie, sandalwood, milk chocolate and toasted vanilla on the nose. The palate was oozing with blackberries, peppercorn and rhubarb tart. I called this Cali Petite Sirah. Nothing about this was cab franc like to me (and I love cab franc). Almost zin like. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

8.8

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Grapefruit for days. Wow. Burst from the glass with sea salt, and a rich lemon lime note that sometimes reminds me of Merry Edwards SB. On the palate, this is very light and nimble (AKA not Merry Edwards SB) showing wet rock and lemongrass. I called this NZ SauvBlanc. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

8.9

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

An enjoyable and down the middle type of champagne. At first, it was almost a touch sweet and had bigger bubbles than I expected, but the second bottle had a finer bead. Apple tart, chalk, and very little yeast. I let this mellow out over lunch and it smelled like fresh honey after a while. I believe this is the second oldest champagne house in champagne? I called this French NV champagne. — 7 days ago

with Will, Colby and 2 others

Shay A

9.3

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

I had this about 2yrs ago and my impression is consistent. Dusty and herbal. More tobacco leaf than leather notes. Dark black cherries, dark cocoa dipped cherries, cedar and truffle dusted licorice. This may be in a sleepy phase and could come out the other side full steam and youthful. Would like to try again and focus on only it. I called this early ‘00s left bank Bordeaux. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

9.6

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Magical. Pristine. Jaw dropping how this is drinking now at 41yrs. So much life left here and the fruit is still so clean and vibrant. Soft black cherries, plum, fig, Andes mint and sweet tobacco aromatics. Dusty to the core with more Andes chocolate mint, sandalwood, and underripe red fruits. Screams Bordeaux except for the finish showing a touch of sweetness. Incredible stuff. I called this late ‘80s Napa Cab. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

8.9

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Such a unique Riesling. Zero petrol on the nose. More lychee-like with orange zest and honeyed lemon aromatics with medium acidity and a fairly sweet palate revealing elderflower, honeysuckle, and white peach. I called this Alsatian gewürztraminer, but the richness and body I experienced at first certainly faded the longer it was in the glass. — 7 days ago

Shay A

9.4

Last night’s “Evening With Krug” event, where they officially released their 2006 vintage. Beautiful evening with many different Krug offerings paired with a delicious meal.

Since the ‘06 was being released, they wanted to also pour the ‘06 base Edition. I preferred this over the 167, mainly because it seemed more Krug like. Slightly oxidative, toasty, lots of sweet toffee and nougat aromatics. Fresh honeyed pastry, ginger, and such a decadent profile on the palate. This is going to get even better, and is such a great buy...especially when these Grande Cuvée bottles have 88% reserve wine in them going back to the early ‘90s. — 8 days ago

with Jason, joe and 3 others