Shay A

9.2

This was one of the featured bottles at Bob’s tonight, and a really nice value at $99 off a restaurant list. Obviously young, it benefitted from the decant we gave it as it needed more time than the Chappellet. This is more old school/traditional style with the cherry tobacco, bay leaf and underripe blackberry notes on the nose, with a streak of black cherry & crushed rock on the finish. Hold or give it a lengthy decant. — 2 days ago

Shay A

9.2

This was a saturated purple and black color in the decanter and I would have guessed maybe 3yrs old based on how tight this was even after 20-30mins. Underripe blackberry, cassis, currant, and plum on the nose. Chewy tannins...dark chocolate dusted dates, tobacco & graphite. No problem letting this go another 5-7 before it even hits a prime drinking window (in my opinion). — 10 days ago

with Dan and Mark

Shay A

9.3

This bottle was opened next to a ‘13 Aubert Lauren and I’ll be darned if I wasn’t impressed at how good this was at this age. Very bright and tropical fruits on the nose, but nowhere near the signature lemon cream I get with Aubert’s SVD chards. Acidity is much more mellow than its Carneros counterpart. Light on its feet on the palate with lemon, honeyed mango and honey roasted cashews. Thanks for opening @Mark Flesher — 10 days ago

with Mark and Dan

Shay A

9.3

Always a reliable restaurant pick. My first ‘15 from any of Chappellet’s wines, and I was astounded at how approachable this was at pop and pour! Wow. The aromatics were just sensational...blueberry and blackberry medley, baked pie, very small hint of smoked meat, and plum. Extremely lush on the palate from start to finish...black cherry cordial, mixed berry, and cocoa dusted dates. Phenomenal value! — 2 days ago

Shay A

9.2

After realizing I’d never had a Beaujolais bottle before, I decided to find a top quality one to give a try. This is an “old vine” version from a very reputable producer.

Reddish purple in the glass but a bit translucent. Very candied and floral on the nose! Candied plum, orange zest, and cherry jolly rancher too. A wonderful entry and mid palate with notes of granite, cherry gummies, potpourri and an herbal note...maybe oregano? Very low acidity, and short finish. A fun wine to try and use as a benchmark/standard. — 5 days ago

with Mark

Shay A

9.4

Aubert’s Lauren Chardonnay is my favorite out of the entire lineup. I’ve had many different vintages as far back as ‘09 and all have been incredible. Tonight, this showed more savory/herbal notes and less fruit than I expected. Blind, I would have called this Aubert’s Ritchie due to the waxy, nutty characteristics I associate with that vineyard. Lots of cashew, almond and butterscotch. The fruit was very deep, almost reductive? Grilled pear and grilled over-ripened lemon. Creamy texture with a very complex structure. Always kind of you to share these wines, @Dan Fitzgerald — 10 days ago

with Dan and Mark

Shay A

9.2

12yrs young...still dark and brooding. The front palate and finish here were very powerful...chalky and underripe blackberry, old fig, saddle leather and tobacco. The mid palate felt a bit light/hollow (a smoky plum note), but this didn’t have the opportunity to open up as we didn’t have time to decant. — 2 days ago

Shay A

9.1

This was $14 by the glass and a total winner for that price. A touch sweet on the front and mid palate with candied almonds, cinnamon roasted cashews and honey suckle but the finish fell off pretty quick. Very little yeast, and pretty much zero chalk or limestone to it. — 2 days ago

Shay A

9.3

Fell victim to experiment. This is tough to rate. I LOVE these wines, especially with 5-10yrs on them. Their mountain tannins and structure need years, and this is no different. Aromatics are already gorgeous...blackberry, candied raspberry and cedar. At the front of the palate it turns very cranberry and bing cherry, turns to charcoal and grilled plum quick on the mid palate, and then drops off a cliff quickly for the finish. A baby. Thanks for taking one for the team @Mark Flesher 😂 — 10 days ago

with Dan and Mark

Shay A

9.4

Another visit to the weekly Wednesday Wine Committee, and a wonderful hosting by Glenn. As always, all wines are tasted blind. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert.

Wow! What a pull from Glenn. My guess was BA (which ended up being correct) but many others were trying to call it TBA or Sauternes. This was sweet, but not liqueur enough for it to be TBA and not enough compact flavors and honeyed savory notes to be Sauternes. Honeyed underripe peach and guava, with a tart finish. I thought it was only 20yrs old! — 12 days ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other