800 Soles
Rollin Michael Soles
(RMS) Willamette Valley Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay
Outstanding Oregon bubbly! 70% Pinot Noir/30% Chardonnay. Aromas and flavors of golden delicious apple and toasted coconut. Fine bubbles and texture. There is a sense of brightness and austerity in this Dry Sparkler. Revisited again Christmas Day 2021. Above notes still apply. So easy to drink. Revisited again in June (on my Birthday) 2022! Still outstanding! — 4 years ago
Jamieson Ranch Vineyards
Double Lariat Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Not usually a cab fan but this one stood out at a wine festival with over 800 to try! — 5 years ago
Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)
St. Julien- Beychevelle Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
Oak. Ample aroma overflowing out from my glass, black currant. Leather, spicy, enough concentration with ripen black fruits. This is near Tarbot, far from Lagrange. @800/100ml(4000), T Enoteca, 190310 — 5 years ago
G.A.E.C. Bonneau & Fils
Réserve des Célestins Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2009
We first tried a bottle of Celestins in a restaurant in Gigondas some years ago, and for me it was a WOW Wine. Had this latest bottle on Sunday with Roast Pork. Medicinal to begin with which blew off. Barnyard aromas - horse manure. In hindsight this could’ve been Brett but the overall impression and tasting was impressive and memorable. Glad I have 3 left. Showing a medium to full bodied palate. This is textbook CdP in the old school genre. The tannins are silky and sexy - a liquorice note together with saddle leather. Henri Bonneau passed away in 2016 and the wine making is now carried out by his son, Marcel. A visit to his archaic cellars was keenly sought after and rarely granted. Mould all over the walls, rickety stairs light bulbs dangling from the ceiling and a floor which stuck to the soles of your shoes was how one visitor described his experience in the cellar. Nevertheless this is a CdP up there with Rayas and the top Cuvée from Beaucastel. The blend is usually 90% Grenache with the balance made up of around 4 or 5 different varieties. — a year ago
Viña Quebrada de Macul
Alba de Domus Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
With transparency. Chocolate like, but spicy. Matured or liquor like. 8.75. But next day, alcohol flavor was gone and turned to deep concentrated. Aroma is calm. 2014 @800, Medoc - XH, 200227-200302 — 4 years ago
Red Soles
Willow Creek District Tempranillo 2018
Very nice Cali Temp. — 2 years ago
Jones Family Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.
My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.
The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.
The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.
Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.
Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.
Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.
@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 5 years ago
Sipping Fine Wine
100% Bobal from organically farmed vines in the Casa Segura estate at 800 meters in altitude, aged about 3 months in large French oak vats, deep Ruby with aromas of red/black fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and black cherry with pepper and herb notes. Fine firm tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and lively mineral character. Good value. Nice! — 7 months ago