Great Northern Vineyards

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 1989

Initially this shows just a trace of threshold level TCA (?), iodine, raw meat, some smoke aromas as well, rich and complex, seems a little more refined that the 1990 Sorrel Hermitage “Le Greal”, but without the incredible depth and sheer power of that wine, another great northern Rhone Syrah!! — 8 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Dave, Zach and 8 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Doug Powers I love this wine but stopped buying it because of so many off bottles.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Ira Schwartz, it is SO frustrating that a domaine this great uses crap-ass corks, which was confirmed 37 years AFTER the vintage!!!

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2023

Opened three days earlier. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, lavender pastilles, bacon fat, black pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A delightful pairing with Bison ribeye. Young but showing its potential. Drink now through 2043. — 14 days ago

Joel, "Odedi" and 16 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

appetizing picture!

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2023

Lyle Fass
9.8

Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — a month ago

Zach, Ira and 10 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2020

first time dining at Chef Vola. 2020 is great but needs air to open up. even 2 hours wasn’t quite enough to show. felt a bit closed to me but still very enjoyable. — a month ago

Jay, Ira and 4 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

A great bottle. Intense and deep fruit. Plum and iodine with a hint of leather and blood. Such a consistent wine and many years ahead — a month ago

Jay, Jan and 10 others liked this

E. Guigal

Brune et Blonde de Guigal Côte-Rotie Syrah

vintage 2015 | spicy, pepper, morelcherries, strict, good acidity — 3 months ago

Jay, Daniel and 9 others liked this

E. Guigal

Château d'Ampuis Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2015

Shay A
9.5

94-95

This was one of the wines I served for my annual WWC hosting. All wines served blind.

93 syrah/ 7 viognier

The third syrah in my lineup was a wine I've enjoyed a few times over the last five years. Bangin' vintage and in a style I enjoy (syrah and vio). Purple-black in the glass, it offers up killer aromatics of rich, dark fruit, some baking spice, and smoked meat. Even with nearly four hours, this was a monster in structure with tannin that paired beautifully with an herb crusted lamb rack. Powerful on the palate with smoked berries, bacon, espresso, vanilla and a savory finish. Still on the upswing with lots of wonderful Cote-Rotie fireworks in store. Wish I had another!
— 3 months ago

Somm, Tom and 19 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Blanc Marsanne Roussanne 2008

Still drinking well. Great expression of a Rhone — a day ago

Sagee, "Odedi" and 3 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 1994

At this point, with this group, a Legends dinner simply wouldn’t be appropriate without at least one bottle of Chave Hermitage.

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1994 Hermitage pours a slightly hazy garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with perfumed notes of dried brambles, dried blueberry, dried purple flowers, black olive, mushroom, espresso, leather, stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly sanguine. Delicious with the 5 Spice Cured Duck prepared with marinated Bing cherries, crispy shallot and Olathe corn polenta. It was such a pleasure to taste the ‘94 Chave next to the ‘85 Gentaz. Two Northern Rhône Legends working with their respective terroirs. Where the Gentaz was all about the aromatics of Côte Rôtie, the Chave was brought more of the power from the Hill of Hermitage. Drink now through 2056.
— 5 days ago

Andrew, Bob and 12 others liked this
Peter Sultan

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Damn… I feel like your chef should also get top star billing in your review!!😉😜@Jay Kline
Lyle Fass

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When I was in JL’s cellar and he asked me what vintage to pick I picked this.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Boo-ya

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1964

Happy birthday to my favorite mother in law! — a month ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Decant for sediment(decent chunky sediment). A remarkable still dark ruby red color. On the nose: Seductive notes of stewed plum, worn leather, soy sauce, pencil lead, mint. Taste: velvety, creamy, savory, layered, polished wine with dried dark cherry/plum, dark chocolate, tar, graphite, and a peppery-smokey earth dry long finish. YUM! Great showing and what you need in an aged Insignia. — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Paul and 10 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Solid wine!

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.
— 2 months ago

Jay, Tom and 11 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

L'Hermitage Syrah 2022

2022, figgy, plum with undertones of bacon at first open. very elegant and soft on palate. beautiful. about 4 hrs later- decanted. change? more mineral, tannins are showing more now than at opening. dried fig, meaty. bolder fruit on back end of palate thru the finish. iron on finish. drinking great but more time would certainly be better. — 3 months ago

Shay liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Offerus Saint-Joseph Syrah

Paul J
9.4

PnP. Great restaurant value. Dark purple color. Bold wine with great depth. Black fruit with meat and menthol. — 4 days ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Paul and 1 other liked this

E. Guigal

La Turque Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1991

Meat, deep herby fruit, iron and intense purity. Great structure, intensity and complexity. A feral, savory and engaging wine. Fantastic stuff. Still young — 24 days ago

David Schachter
with David
Jay, Jan and 9 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Chaillot Cornas Syrah 2018

Always a treat to drink this with notes of dark cherry, berry, meat, iron, spice, licorice, graphite, tobacco & violets. — 22 days ago

Joel, Joe and 8 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Great improvement from the last btl. Unfortunately my last & not on the top of my list to replace. — 8 hours ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2013

To close the evening we have an Yquem. Always a treat, never disappoints. The 2013 is still young with decades upon decades to go. The honey, the fruit, the endless flavor that lingers in your mouth forever - what a great wine. — a month ago

Billy, Bob and 2 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2023

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short purple rim.

Red and black fruits on the nose with cedar, chocolates, spices, tobacco, coffee and black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, black currants, black plums, cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, coffee, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf and light pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink beautifully now. Rich and easy drinking.

Fruit forward and complex, soft and smooth. Spicy and entertaining, powerful yet refined. Showing good balance albeit a little hot at the back of the throat, at this point.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years and shows good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250.
— a month ago

Dawn, Paul and 14 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - You’d be surprised how many Napa Cabs have broken the 15 barrier these days.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I understand with Zinfandel, but my recent experiences with those 14.5%+ inexpensive Bordeaux made me realize I just don’t care for Canernet or Merlot pushing 15%! 🤔🤷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - I’m with you. Hard stop at 15 for 95% of wines (exception if I ever get a shot at a Rayas or the like)

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1989

Much richer and thicker than the 1988, which is all about elegance, this 1989 CdP is about power, depth and richness, very long, lingering finish, great wine!! — 3 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Joseph, Rick and 10 others liked this